NOWA HUTA COMMUNISM DISTRICT

The Nowa Huta area was built in the late 1940s. Now it is one of the biggest Krakow districts situated 10km from the city center. For the citizens of Krakow, Nowa Huta has always been the visible sign of communism and that's why for many years they treated it with contempt.

Nowadays with population of 200 thousand still differs from the rest of the city with its monumental Socialist architecture. When you look at Nowa Huta from the bird's eye view it is easy to figure out that it looks like the sun: in the middle you can find Central Square and the streets which start at this square are the sun's rays. The Lenin statue that used to stand in the middle of the square was replaced by a replica of Gdansk Crosses in 1990. Further to anti-religious Communist policy, it was impossible to build churches in this district for years. The permission to build the first church was granted in 1970s.
 
Nowa Huta Today

Since the fall of Communism the city that was once a showpiece for Stalinism now boasts many tributes to ardent anti-Communists. Streets formerly named after Lenin and the Cuban Revolution have been renamed to honor Pope John Paul II and the Polish exile leader Władysław Anders. In 2004 Plac Centralny, Nowa Huta's central square which once was home to a giant statue of Lenin - on display at High Chaparral Museum in Hillerstorp Sweden, was renamed Ronald Reagan Central Square (Plac Centralny im. Ronalda Reagana) in honor of the former U.S. President However, this decision led to many protests, and the traditional name is still widely used.
 
Sightseeing:

- Wanda Mound (Kopiec Wandy). The Wanda Mound was inspired by a mythical royal figure - Princess Wanda sacrificed by throwing herself into the Wisła River. 14 meters high and 50 meters in diameter, is situated next to Nowa Huta steelworks. Providing a fantastic view Wanda Mound is the second mound in Krakow.

- Cistercian Monastery in Mogila. Situated in Mogila this monastery is most important monument of this kind in Krakow and one of most valued in Poland. The Cistercian monastery of Mogiła was founded in the 1220s from the mother house of Lubiąż in Silesia.

- Church of St Bartholomew (Kosciol Sw. Bartlomieja). The small, shingled Church of St Bartholomew dates from the mid-15th century, which makes it Poland's oldest surviving three-nave timber church. It's located at Klasztorna Street, next to the Cistercian Monastery. The church is one of the best examples of famous Polish wooden architecture.
 
How to get there ??:

One can reach Nowa Huta by trams (4, 9, 15 or 22) and getting off at the Plac Centralny stop.
 
COMMUNISM TOURS

Europe's most famous alternative tours company! Join the Crazy Guides team on one of their personalized tours of Krakow and see the true sights of this amazing city. Their famous Communism Tours were created to change the typical guided tour, packed with tones of boring names and dates, into a real interactive adventure. With the help of your Crazy Guide, and a funky Eastern bloc Trabant automobile, you will travel back in time to discover the fascinating history of Nowa Huta, Krakow's communist district, and experience for yourself life as it was in the "good old' days".

Energetic team were carefully selected by Crazy Mike, beloved Leader and founder of Crazy Guides, so you can be sure that you'll get the best service on the planet!