Malopolska is a region with the highest number of monuments in Poland, the region of enormous culture heritage, fascinating traditions and varied natural conditions

Krakow is the capital of Malopolska, once the capital of Poland and the seat of the kings, nowadays the artistic and culture centre of the country and the city described by Pope John Paul II as the synthesis of everything that is Polish.

Main Square in Krakow can be reckoned as one of the biggest tourist attractions in Europe. It is bigger than St Marks Square in Venice and it marvels both tourists and inhabitants of Krakow. Impressive architecture, numerous culture institutions, cafes and pubs, create the exceptional character of this place as a true heart of the town. The Squere has the ambience that one cannot experience anywhere else in the world

Within the city borders one can find churches built in almost every architectural style. Museums in Krakow attract visitors with collections from various periods and countries. Every visitor should go to Wawel Castle, which used to be the seat of the Polish kings. Within the medieval walls of Krakows Old Town there are over 300 monumental tenements, 58 churches and palaces.

But Krakow is just one of the attractions of Malopolska. North of the city, among Jurassic rocks, a wonderful Pradnik valley extends. Ojcow Nationl Park was created here. On its area tourists can find limestone rocks, ravines and over 900 caves. The Renaissance castle in Pieskowa Skala, called The Little Wawel and the ruins of castle in Ojcow, complete the landscape.

It is worth knowing that the neighbourhood of Ojcow is a favourite recreational place for the inhabitants of Krakow, as it offers various types of recreation, from hiking, cycling and rock-climbing to golf.

A former royal castle is a main attraction of Niepolomice, a city located south of Krakow. Not far away from the city Niepolomicka Forest is located. Polish kings used to hunt here. At present one can observe here the last herd of bison living in the wild. To the south of Krakow there is Wieliczka with its monumemtal saltmine, also one of the sitesof the UNESCO list. The saltmine and the underground Salt Museum are open for the visitors. A visit to impressive chapels and chambers carved in salt is an unforgettable experience.

The UNESCO list also includes the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim and a monastery complex in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. The latter is the second largest (first is Jasna Gora in Czestochowa), St Marys sanctuary in Poland, visited every year by over half a milion pilgrims. It is worth coming here before Easter to take part in the spectacular Passion Plays. Not far from Kalwaria lies the city of Wadowice, where John Paul II was born. Four more wooden churches including St Michaels church in Debno, St Leonards church in Lipnica Murowana, St Philip and Jacobs in Sekowa and St Michaels church in Binarowa were also added to the UNESCO List. All these churches are sights of the Wooden Architecture Route.

South of Wieliczka the only mountain range of Alpine character in Poland begins. It is the Tatra Mountains range of Alpine character in Poland begins. It is the Tatra Mountains, the most attractive region for alpine skiing in Poland. The main city of the region, Zakopane, calloed the winter capital of Poland, atrracts not only skiers and mountain climbers but also artists and culture lovers.

Numerous mineral springs are also among rich natural resources in the region. Thanks to them, such famous health resorts as Krynica, Muszyna, Piwniczna, Szczawnica or Rabka are flourishing. There are also artificial lakes, where water sports centres in Roznow, Klimkowka and Niedzica have developed.