Explore Podgorze in Krakow
Located just across the Vistula River from Kazimierz, Podgorze is a neighborhood with a profoundly moving history and an increasingly vibrant present. During World War II, the Nazis established the Krakow Ghetto here, and the area holds several deeply important memorial sites that draw visitors from around the world.
The most significant of these is the Schindler's Factory Museum, housed in the actual factory of Oskar Schindler, the German industrialist who saved over a thousand Jewish lives. The museum offers a comprehensive and emotionally powerful account of life in Krakow under Nazi occupation. Nearby, the Eagle Pharmacy Museum tells the story of resistance through the eyes of a pharmacist who aided ghetto residents.
Beyond its wartime history, Podgorze has a distinct character all its own. The neighborhood's main square, Plac Bohaterow Getta, features a haunting memorial of empty chairs representing the Jews who were deported. The surrounding streets have a quieter, more local feel than the tourist-heavy Old Town, with independent cafes, street art, and a growing number of creative spaces.
Podgorze is also a great area for biking along the riverbanks, and the scenic Krakus Mound offers panoramic views of the city. This neighborhood is ideal for travelers who want to go deeper into Krakow's history and experience a more authentic, less commercialized side of the city. It rewards those who take the time to wander its streets with a richer understanding of Krakow's complex past and hopeful future.