Explore the rich history in one of the Poland’s oldest and largest cities

Though it may sound odd to say, one visits Krakow, and the region around it, both for what didn’t happen there during World War II … and for what did. Unlike many of Europe’s great cities, Krakow was largely spared the devastating bombing raids that laid waste to large parts of Dresden, London, Berlin and other cities. Its medieval halls, churches and markets; its famous castle; and its cobblestoned Old Town escaped the ’40s nearly unscathed and today visitors glory in a city so bewitching, so rich in history, that large portions have been named UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Though the ancient buildings were preserved, the region does have a World War II history, and a heartrending one, at that. Half a million visitors per year come to commemorate that part of its history, making the pilgrimage to nearby Auschwitz, the Nazis’ most horrifically effective death camp. In a daylong trip you’ll have just enough time to touch on both sides of Krakow’s past — the sobering and the celebratory.

Performing in the American Celebration of Music in Poland, participating groups will have the opportunity to visit Krakow and enjoy this magnificent city.