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The Symposium participants can take part in the following excursions:
- to Salt Mine in Wieliczka
- to Zakopane
- to Royal Castle - Wawel
- to Auschwitz-Birkenau
- to Wadowice
To see the details click on the link below:
>>REGISTRATION<<
To find out more about the marvellous places of destination, read the following descriptions:
The Wieliczka Salt Mine
The place often referred to as the ‘Underground Salt Cathedral of Poland,' dates back to mid-13th century. It is 327 m deep and over 300 km long. Every year millions of tourists are tempted to come and admire its magnificent 20 chambers displaying historic and mythical figures on the area of approx. 3 km of tourist route. Among multiple attractions underground, tourists will enjoy a ferry crossing at a saline lake with Treasurer, the good spirit of the Mine. There are numerous events organized here: musical concerts, arts exhibitions, or even such extreme sports enterprises as balloon flights or bungee jumping. The Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of the world's oldest salt mines, has well deserved its place on UNESCO list of the World Heritage Sites since 1978.
The Wawel Hill
The settlement on the Wawel Hill dates back to as early as 100 thousand years B.C. For years it was the centre of political power in Poland. The Wawel Royal Castle served as a coronation place for Polish monarchs. Today tourists are invited to step into state rooms, royal private apartments or crown treasury and armoury, where the sword Szczerbiec, used in coronation ceremonies, is displayed. The Wawel Cathedral houses the tombs of Polish monarchs, and other renowned Polish personages. It is here that the Sigismund Bell hangs, announcing only significant events. A legend tells that if the bell's heart breaks, hard times for Poland will come. But touching its heart will bring nothing but luck.
Zakopane
Zakopane, situated at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, has the highest elevation (750-1,126 m) of all Polish cities. In the second half of the 19th century it started to enjoy a reputation of a flourishing cultural centre, associated with many famous Polish artists, such as Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, and Jan Kasprowicz. Zakopane will be a good starting point for wandering in the Tatra National Park. The city is also unofficially known as "the winter capital of Poland".
Auschwitz-Birkenau
This name refers to a network of concentration camps built by German Nazis in the occupied Poland (the town of Auschwitz-Birkenau and its suburbs) in 1940. Originally, it was meant for Poles, massively arrested at that time. It grew larger, and in 1942 became a place of mass extermination, mainly of Jews. According to historical sources about 1 million of Jews and thousands of people of other nationalities lost their lives there.
Wadowice
This town is mainly known as the family town of John Paul II, the Pope, as it was here that in 1920 he was born. John Paul II visited Wadowice three times during his pontificate. Tourists may follow the Karol Wojtyla Route (Szlak Karola Wojtyly), and visit the Museum of the Holy Father Family House, or try cream cookies ("kremówki") which he ate as a schoolboy.
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