DAY 1 ARRIVAL - KATOWICE
Airport transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Katowice.
DAY 2 KATOWICE
Guided tour of Katowice – the centre of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region. In addition to being a city of commerce and industry, it is also a place with a long history which dates back to the sixteenth century. We are going to visit buildings representing various periods of time and styles, like for example the districts Giszowiec and Nikiszowiec or the Cathedral of Christ the King (the biggest cathedral in Poland). Free time. Overnight in Katowice.
DAY 3 CZĘSTOCHOWA: MUSEUM OF MATCHES
Excursion to Częstochowa, where we are going to visit the Museum of the Production of Matches and the Jasna Góra Monastery - the most famous Marian sanctuary and pilgrimage place in Poland, where the miraculous icon of Black Madonna is kept. Overnight in Katowice.
DAY 4 ZABRZE: COAL MINE and GLIWICE: RADIO STATION
Excursion to Zabrze and Gliwice. In the development of both cities, the mining and metal industry have played an important role. We are going to enter a real coal mine and we will see the machines that were used to extract coal. Then we will travel to Gliwice to visit the radio station where a false flag operation, organized by the nazi government, took place on 31 of August 1939 in order to justify an invasion on Poland. Overnight in Katowice.
DAY 5 RADZIONKÓW: MUSEUM OF BREAD and WIELICZKA: SALT MINE
Departure for Cracow. A stop in Radzionków to visit the Museum of Bread. We will learn there how to bake bread, we will get to know its story and the typical Polish traditions related to this foodstuff.
On a way to Cracow we will also visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine (UNESCO). The mine, one of the oldest in the world, is visited every year by over one million of tourists from all over the world. During the tour you’ll admire 20 salt rock chambers (with a magnificent St. King’s chapel), underground saline lakes, numerous salt sculptures and impressive timber constructions. Overnight in Cracow.
DAY 6 CRACOW
Walking tour of the Old Town (UNESCO) – discovering the treasures of the former capital of Poland. Starting with the Wawel hill with an impressive castle (which used to be the seat of the Polish kings) and the cathedral, you’ll follow the Royal Way to admire the beautiful tenement houses and churches and reach the Market Square – the largest medieval market place in Europe! Here we’ll stop for a while to listen to the bugle call played by a trumpeter from St. Mary’s Church tower, visit the church (with the famous wooden altar) and the Cloth Hall – a perfect place to buy some souvenirs from Krakow. During the tour you’ll also visit the university quarter with Collegium Maius – the oldest building of the Jagiellonian University. John Paul II studied here. Then we will walk through Kazimierz – the old Jewish quarter – a must see for anyone who comes to Krakow. The history of Kazimierz dates back to 1335 when it was founded by King Kazimierz the Great. During over 500 years it was housing the Krakow’s Jews and became a major European centre for the Diaspora. Overnight in Cracow.
DAY 7 DEPARTURE - KATOWICE
Transfer to Katowice Airport.