Club Visit to Krakow

Mon, Jun 6th 2016 at 12:00 pm- Fri, Jun 10th 2016 - 9:00 pm

Members of the Club went to Krakow, Poland, from Monday 6th June to Friday 10th June. As well as visiting Auschwitz and a salt mine, members also joined with members of the Rotary Club of Krakow-Wawel for an evening meeting and meal.


The following report on our trip to Krakow is a press release written by Rotarian Maciek Kaczmar.

The Rotary Club visit to Kraków 2016

Promoting fellowship between members has always been one of the key objectives of Rotary Clubs worldwide. This year on June 6-10th, the Rotary Club of Tywyn organised a visit for club members and partners to Kraków in southern Poland. The itinerary of the trip was to visit the beautiful city of Kraków including excursions to the Wieliczka salt mines and an opportunity for members to pay their respects to those who suffered and died in the concentration camp of Auschwitz.


Krakow is a beautiful city with a rich history and a cultural centre of Poland. The group were based in an hotel in the old part of the city within easy walking distance of the famous main square. On the first day a meeting was organised to meet members of the Kraków Wawel Rotary Club at one of their weekly meetings where the group received a very warm welcome by members of the Kraków Wawel Rotary Club. As a token of friendship, President Stephanie Purcell presented the Tywyn club flag to Kraków Club President Tadeusz Skarbek. (see photo)

 

The following day the group travelled to visit the Auschwitz /Birkenau museum to learn about the fate of the prisoners and pay their respects at the memorial to the 1.5 million men, women and children who died in the gas chambers. This was a very moving experience for everyone and one that no one will forget. (see photos)

 

The trip also included a tour of the World Heritage site at the Wieliczka salt mine. Group members were treated to a fascinating guided tour of the old underground workings ending with the highlight of the tour, to the underground chapel carved entirely from the rock salt 100 meters below the surface.

 

There was also plenty of time left in Kraków to experience the beautiful architecture and attractions of the ‘Rynek Glowny’.

The square dates from the 13th century and is one of the largest medieval squares in Europe with its famous nightlife and vibrant café culture.