Cracow
It is a miracle that Cracow, the ancient capital of the kings of Poland, has survived so many trials and tribulations to remain one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe.
With enormous wealth based on the salt trade, the Polish kings built Wawel Castle, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, and laid out a spacious Market Square, two architectural complexes that rival anything south of the Alps. Cracow was a centre of learning, and the ancient Jagellian University boasts among its alumni Nicholas Copernicus and, more recently, Pope John Paul II. The indomitable spirit and courage of the Poles enabled them to surmount terrible vicissitudes in the 19th century, when Poland ceased to exist, and, more recently, the horrors of Nazism and Communism.
Many of the old families have now succeeded in regaining their palaces and possessions, and we will be visiting the most interesting of these, with the highlight being the Portrait of a Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci one of the most sublime creations of the Renaissance.
Hotel: The 5 star Hotel Copernicus is the only hotel in Poland affiliated to the Relais and Chateaux group, renowned for its high standards of service and comfort. Situated in the heart of mediaeval Cracow, it has an attractive brick exterior and the rooms have traditional wooden furniture.
Lecturer: Charles FitzRoy
Tour Leaders: Charles FitzRoy and Jane Rae