Baltimore Ski Club Grand ****4 Star Tour of Poland September 18-28, 2014

Transcription

1 Baltimore Ski Club Grand ****4 Star Tour of Poland September 18-28, 2014 Contact: Christopher Pukalski / christopher.pukalski@hotmail.com $2,385 BSC/BRSC members $2,400 guests Round trip charter bus from Baltimore area to Dulles airport Round trip airfare, Dulles to Gydania, and home from Krakow to Dulles 9 nights lodging double occupancy 9 full breakfast buffets 9 complete dinners ~ all 4 and 5 star hotels all sightseeing admissions fully escorted. 2 nights lodging in Novotel Centrum Gdańsk Sightseeing tour of Gdańsk Sightseeing of Malbork Castle andtoruń 2 nights lodging Mercure Centrum Warsaw Entrance fee to Palace on the water Entrance fee to Museum of King Jan III s Palace at Wilanów + park Sightseeing of sanctuary and Pauline Monastery in Częstochowa (Jasna Góra) 5 nights lodging Hotel Ibis Centrum Kraków Sightseeing of Krakow, St. Mary's Basilica, Wawel Basilica, Kazimierz and synagogue Day trip to Salt Mine Wieliczka Guided tour of Auschwitz - Oswięcim Transfers according to the program, including costs for parking and roads Assistance of English speaking historical guide Emergency medical and repatriation insurance. Cancellation insurance is additional Gdansk Gdansk, on the Baltic Sea, is among the finest cities of northern Europe, distinguished by beautiful buildings and a history that stretches back more than 1,000 years. For many centuries the wealthiest city in Poland, it was in 1939 the place where the first shots of WWII were fired. At one point, Gdansk played a pivotal role in the Polish Republic and became a major centre of the arts goldsmiths fashioning jewelry for the royalty. Group Trips Unlimited, Inc Page 1

2 Then in 1980, the birthplace of the Solidarnosc labor movement, it ushered in the end of Communist domination in Eastern Europe. Gdansk s Old Town, painstakingly reconstructed after being leveled in World War II, is a highlight. The 14th-century Town Hall houses the city s historical museum. Gdansk Crane The Gdansk Crane, icon of the city, is one of its finest buildings and a medieval structure almost unique in Europe. It served a dual role of city gate and port crane. The crane, an entirely wood structure, was operated by men working huge treadmills within. St. Mary's Basilica The church of St. Mary is the largest medieval brick built church in Europe. It has an astronomical clock from the 15 th century which shows the days, dates of moveable feasts and phases of the moon. A procession of figures appears at noon. The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the largest brick church in the world, went through several stages of development over the period from 1343 to Its interior displays many exquisite pieces of Medieval and Baroque art, including the stone Pieta from about 1410, a copy of the Last Judgement by Hans Memling, the original canvas dating back to 1472, the astronomical clock built by Hans Düringer between 1464 and 1470 and the main altar put up between 1510 and The church is 105 m long, including the tower battlements, and the vaults soar 29m above floor level. The solid main tower is 77.6m high and it is crowned with a viewing gallery which enables visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. In order to get there it is necessary to climb almost 400 steps. St. Mary s Street It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful streets of Gdańsk. It leads from the St Mary's church to the Long Embankment with the Medieval St Mary's Gate. The street is an exquisite example of historic Gdansk urban planning with terraced entrances and narrow, richly decorated facades of houses which once belonged to affluent merchants and goldsmiths. Oliwa Cathedral The organ loft was made by local Cistercian monk in the late 18 th century and was the largest in Europe at the time. The monastery buildings are now occupied by branches of the Diocesan and contemporary art museums and surrounded by Oliwa Park On the way from Gdansk to Warsaw we will visit Malbork Castle and Torun The over 700 year history of the castle covers the era of the crusades up to time of Fascism.. Group Trips Unlimited, Inc Page 2

3 Malbork Castle Torun Torun is the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus. The city was founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1233 and quickly became a major center of trade. The old town of Torun, picturesquely situated on the banks of the River Vistula, retains its medieval street plan and most of the streets are closed to traffic. Torun survived WWII relatively unscathed. Old Market Square in Torun The Old Market Square is the city s finest open space and is still the vibrant heart of the historic district. The centerpiece is the town hall, but on all four sides of the square are fine buildings such as the Meissner Palace. The Crooked Tower is one of Torun s greatest attractions. It is part of the town s old fortifications system. Although it leans significantly from the perpendicular, the ceilings that were added later are perfectly level so that beer can be set down on tables in the pub without fear of sliding off. Next stop Warsaw: Warsaw Royal Łazienki (the palace on the water) Lazienki Park is part of a great complex of heritage gardens. The pavilion gave the park its name (Lazienki meaning baths ). Museum of King Jan III s Palace at Wilanow Park Willanow Palace was built at the end of the 17 th century as the city residence of Jan III Sobieski.The gateway features figures representing War and Peace. Group Trips Unlimited, Inc Page 3

4 Old Town Warsaw Stare Miasto On the way From Warsaw to Krakow a stop at the Black Madonna of Czestochowa Sanctuary and Pauline Monastery in Czestochowa. Monastery in Czestochowa The monastery of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa is the most famous shrine of the Virgin in Poland and the country s greatest place of pilgrimage for many it s the spiritual capital and they attribute the Black Madonna with miraculous powers. Krakow/ Kracow Kracow is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Over the centuries many important artists and architects came to work here. The city has been spared major destruction, so it preserves the largest assemblage of historic buildings and Group Trips Unlimited, Inc Page 4

5 monuments in Poland. At the beginning of the 16 th century, Kracow came under the influence of the Renaissance. The Royal Castle, the Cloth Hall in the Main Market Square, and many private houses and mansions were rebuilt in the Renaissance style. In 1596 the capital was moved to Warsaw, but it was Wawel Cathedral where successive kings were crowned. Most places of interest in Kracow are located in its fairly compact historic center and are best seen on foot. A great place to start is Wawel Hill with its imposing Royal Castle and Gothic cathedral in which many kings are interred in the crypt. To the south of Wawel Hill is the Kazimierz district, with its preserved Jewish quarter. The huge market square was laid out when Kracow received its new municipal charter in 1257 and is one of the largest in Europe. It teems with life all year round with a maze of café tables, antique dealers, restaurants and bars. Cloth Hall This beautiful building replaced an earlier Gothic market hall. The upper floor is the Gallery of Polish paintings and houses part of the national museum. The ground floor is filled with cafes and souvenir shops. City Hall Tower The Gothic Tower is the only remaining part of the former City Hall. Wawel Basilica The Cathedral of Saints Stanislaw andwaclaw, which stands on the Wawel in Krakow, is one of the most important churches in Poland. There are royal tombs and the Zygmunt Bell which is the largest in Poland and weighs 11 tons. Salt Mine Wieliczka- A day trip from Krakow Wieliczka Wieliczka is famous for its ancient salt mine, which was opened 700 years ago and is still being exploited today. Unique in the world, it has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. About 1.5 miles of the network is open to the public reaching a depth of 442 and a temperature of degrees F. The most impressive of these is the Chapel of St. Kinga, with altarpieces, chandeliers and sculptures made of salt. The Staszic Chamber has the highest ceiling of 115. Jewish District of Kazimierz and Synagogue Kazimierz, the heart of Jewish Krakow, is now a thriving district, a mixture of cultural festivals, café culture, antique shops, art galleries, restaurants and barshowever, it would be Group Trips Unlimited, Inc Page 5

6 wrong to talk about Kazimierz merely in those terms, for any visitor, regardless of nationality or religious persuasion, it's worth pointing out that Kazimierz's history spans centuries. It was originally established in 1335 and named after its founder, King Kazimierz Wielki (Casimir the Great), who intended it to rival the established city of Krakow. It remains one of the most culturally significant Jewish areas in the world. In 1495, the Jews who were expelled from Krakow settled here, and Kazimierz became a mixture of Christian and Jewish culture. During the war the Nazis did all they could to destroy and ruin Kazimierz. After the war, decades of communist neglect left Kazimierz a crumbling ruin. With communism's fall, Kazimierz has changed beyond all recognition. As well as the aforementioned art galleries and cafés, buildings have been renovated and museums opened. There has also been a reawakening in the importance of Jewish history and culture in Poland. Steven Spielberg's film, Schindler's List, was filmed here and generated intense interest in the area. It has an unforgettable and unique atmosphere, synagogues and museums, as well as its cafés, bars and art galleries Auschwitz- A Day trip from Krakow Although the name Oswiecim means little to foreigners, its German equivalent, Auschwitz, is known to the world. It was here that the Nazis established their largest concentration and extermination camp. Auschwitz is synonymous with death, cruelty, the annihilation of the Jews and the Holocaust. It is a massive graveyard and no visitor can leave unmoved. The camp has been preserved as a memorial, and the prison blocks that survive have been turned into a museum charting the history of the camp and of persecution in wartime Poland. Departure from Krakow:At the ending of our journey we will fly from Krakow to Dulles and our coach takes us back to the Columbia and Baltimore area. Contact: Christopher Pukalski / christopher.pukalski@hotmail.com Important Note: This itinerary reflects some changes from the original trip offering. Malbork Castle has been added by request. We are in Warsaw one less day and in Krakow one day more, due to the number of places to be seen and the travel times in the Krakow area. We now have a larger luxury coach and needed to have hotels with easy bus entrance and access, so we are in different hotels than described in the first trip flyer. If you are unhappy with any of these necessary changes and wish to cancel, please notify the trip leader immediately by February 15 th He will be glad to give you a complete refund and clear a space from the long wait list. Group Trips Unlimited, Inc Page 6