Krakow in December (1 Viewer)

[Egret]

Hi

Going to Krakow, in December, for a few days. While this is not a birding trip I just wondered if there was anything to look out for? Any suggestions for locations that would be worth a visit would be welcome.

Andy

 

[Ashley beolens]

Not birding but a trip to Auschwitz will be one of the most moving experiences of your life! Also Schindlers Factory is in Krakow, and lots of the city is stunning.

True story: I was on a stag weekend in Krakow (we visited the above and you wouild not believe how a load of rowdy men could be so quiet and moved!) as with many stag do's we ended up in a strip club (not really my thing) but the view was absolutely amazing, as it was in a tower block you had views from the balcony of the city along the river lit up at night.

The bars were all odd though being down in cellars and all had random items on the walls etc. and each one had a small indoor balcony area (fits about 5 people or so), very odd.

Can't say I noticed any birds though, apart from a shrike sp on the overhead wires.

 

[James Lowther]

as with many stag do's we ended up in a strip club (not really my thing)

yeah right!!

there is a large park called las wolski in the west of the city, by the zoo, with good woodland birds. I saw e.g. middle-spotted woodpecker, short-toed treecreeper, hawfinch, in december 2008, but black, grey-headed, lesser spotted woodpecker should all be possible.

best thing to do is get a bus to the zoo from the city centre and then just follow the trails into the woods.

wrap up warm!!

cheers,
James

p.s. agree about auschwitz, it's a very profound, maybe lifechanging experience

 

[Arbu]

There might be some birds to be seen in the woods on the far side of the Birkenau section of Auschwitz. Photo of a cuckoo from there a few summers ago attached.

 

[Egret]

Not birding but a trip to Auschwitz will be one of the most moving experiences of your life! Also Schindlers Factory is in Krakow, and lots of the city is stunning.

.

Thanks for the helpful replies; we have now added Schindler's factory to our trip bookings. That gives us Sunday - Schindler, Monday - Auschwitz, Tuesday - salt mine. As we are only there Saturday - Wednesday there won't be much time to head out to the zoo area but it looks as though there is a park near our hotel and we now know what ot look out for - all the "European" woodpeckers would be lifers for us anyway.

Andy

 

[Ashley beolens]

To be honest I don't think you can look around Schindlers factory, it is just there, still a working factory. we were taken by our taxi drivers on the way back after Auswitch (best tour guides you could want out there), down loads of back streets. I wouldn't give it a full day (although I guess this may have changed as was a few years ago now).

 

[Egret]

To be honest I don't think you can look around Schindlers factory, it is just there, still a working factory. we were taken by our taxi drivers on the way back after Auswitch (best tour guides you could want out there), down loads of back streets. I wouldn't give it a full day (although I guess this may have changed as was a few years ago now).

Nowadays, there is a museum and a friend, who visited recently, thought it was well worth a visit.

As I started this thread I guess I must take the blame for it now having nothing to dowith birds!:-O

Andy

 

[stonechat1]

[...] large park called las wolski [...]

What means Wolski Forest. Agree with the suggestions. Auschwitz needs a lot of time if you´re visiting the remaining camps! The Main Camp called Auschwitz I (with a lot of exhibitions and a book store) and Auschwitz - Birkenau called Auschwitz II are still worth to visit. You can spend a lot of time in Cracow itself there is many to visit: Royal Castle (in polish Wawel), St. Mary Church, the Main Market Square nearby with the famous cloth hall (polish Sukiennice), etc..
I´ve been there (visiting friends) and can tell you its a very beautiful city with nearly the same architecture like in Vienna. No wonder, once it was part of Austria - Hungary.

Some info can help:
http://www1.krakow.pl/en/?chl=EN