Jewish District Walking Tour and Food Tasting

Kazimierz is well known as a Jewish City but only a half of it was ever called Oppidum Judeorum. Jidysh speaking Jews came from German territory. In 1334, king Casimir the Great guaranteed them fundamental rights, including the right to trade and the freedom of religion. They lived in Old City untill Krakow Academy (Jagiellonian University) was built in the Jewish street. They had to move to the vicinity of the present Szczepański Square. After conflicts with Christian towns people they were asked to leave to the nearby town founded by king Casimir the Great in 1335.

In Kazimierz, Poles and Jews lived peacefully and jewish local culture became famous in the world at large. Great rabbis and philosophers, writers, scholars and musicians created vibrant community whose spitit survived the tragedy of Holocaust. From 65 000 people only very few survived the WWII. After war Kazimierz that was empty and considered dangerous slowly came to the life again as a multicultural and artisan meeting spot.