Shtetl - following the traces of Jewish Villages
Route: Krakow - Dzialoszyce - Pinczow - Chmielnik - Szydlow - Checiny - Krakow
Date: On request
Shtetl
Poland has been the Jewish centre of life for centuries. At the end of the 18th Century there had been about 80% of the whole Jewish population. Prior to 1939 there were about 3.5 million Jews in Poland. The Second World War put a sudden end to this rich culture and tradition. All that has remained are the unique examples of destroyed culture found in Shtetls - little Jewish towns prior to World War II.
There are many shtetls left around Krakow. Very few contain traces of an ongoing Jewish presence. For our excursion, we have chosen shtetls with original synagogues, cemeteries and architecture.
Tour-lecture
During the tour, besides visiting the usual tourist sites, we suggest reading the Jewish writings of Isaac Beshwis Singer, Martin Buber, Alfred Doeblin, Mordechaj Gebirtig and listening the klezmer music.
The trip starts in Dzialoszyce where you can see the ruins of the old synagogue and the preserved village centre. We visit the place of the Jewish execution next to the old Kirkut. Next it’s on to Pinczow to admire the synagogue and an exhibition of photography showing the history of synagogue before World War II. In Chemielnik the tour passes the ruins of the old synagogue and goes through the market square - straight out of one of Singer’s stories. The tour continues to Szydlow, which is surrounded by medieval brick walls, and boasts a beautifully preserved synagogue. The last stop on the tour is Checiny, located at the foot of the ruins of a medieval castle. This village with its provincial buildings has an interesting synagogue and an old and uncommon Jewish cemetery.
Details:
Guides: English
Travel by bus/coach, guide, lunch and entry to sites visited.
Route: Krakow - Dzialoszyce - Pinczow - Chmielnik - Szydlow - Checiny - Krakow
Departure: pick-up
Duration: approx. 9-10 hrs
Sale and information:
Marco der Pole
ul. Kanonicza 15
31-002 Kraków, Poland
Tel.:
e-mail:joanna@marcoderpole.com.pl
