DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25050#0322
attracting students from neighbouring countries. Hebrew presses
were set up, among them Izaak Aronowicz’s publishing house.
Many Jews made their names as physicians. The process of
assimilation of Polish Jews, especially those who lived in large
urban centres such as Kazimierz, did hot begin until the nine-
teenth century. Even later, practically until 1939, the Jewish
district remained a separate world, with an atmosphere remindful
of the Middle East. This world was destroyed by the Nazis.
Cracow’s Jews were initially confined to a ghetto in the district
of Podgorze, and later systematically murdered in extermination
camps. The relics they left behind in Kazimierz are scarce - a few
badly preserved historic buildings, a cemetery and some Hebrew
lettering on facades visible under layers of newer paint. The last
war brutally wiped out the cultural identity of Kazimierz. From
the administrative point of view, though, it had been swallowed
up by the city much earlier. Legally, Kazimierz was incorporated
into Cracow in 1791. The process of integration was hastened after
the Old Vistula was filled from 1878 to 1880, and the boulevard,
called Dietl’s Planty, was set up.
For centuries the main access to Kazimierz from the city centre
has been provided by the broad Stradomska Street, initially
running across the suburban marshes to the bridge spanning the
Old Vistula. A settlement gradually grew up here, then a suburb,
then a district, to this day dominated by two extensive monastic
foundations of the Bernardines and the Missionaries.
The Bernadine order of St Francis enjoyed huge popularity
in ancient Poland. The monks arrived in Cracow due to the
missionary activities of the great Italian preacher, St John Ca-
pistrano. At the foot of the Wawel Hill a timber church was built,
to be replaced in 1455 by a stone one founded by Cardinal
Olesnicki. It was destroyed during the Swedish siege of the
Wawel, and the present church from 1670-1680 was constructed
by the architect and military engineer Krzysztof Mieroszewski.
The church is set back from Stradomska Street, and the spacious
square in front of the facade is used for the church festivals and
3°7
were set up, among them Izaak Aronowicz’s publishing house.
Many Jews made their names as physicians. The process of
assimilation of Polish Jews, especially those who lived in large
urban centres such as Kazimierz, did hot begin until the nine-
teenth century. Even later, practically until 1939, the Jewish
district remained a separate world, with an atmosphere remindful
of the Middle East. This world was destroyed by the Nazis.
Cracow’s Jews were initially confined to a ghetto in the district
of Podgorze, and later systematically murdered in extermination
camps. The relics they left behind in Kazimierz are scarce - a few
badly preserved historic buildings, a cemetery and some Hebrew
lettering on facades visible under layers of newer paint. The last
war brutally wiped out the cultural identity of Kazimierz. From
the administrative point of view, though, it had been swallowed
up by the city much earlier. Legally, Kazimierz was incorporated
into Cracow in 1791. The process of integration was hastened after
the Old Vistula was filled from 1878 to 1880, and the boulevard,
called Dietl’s Planty, was set up.
For centuries the main access to Kazimierz from the city centre
has been provided by the broad Stradomska Street, initially
running across the suburban marshes to the bridge spanning the
Old Vistula. A settlement gradually grew up here, then a suburb,
then a district, to this day dominated by two extensive monastic
foundations of the Bernardines and the Missionaries.
The Bernadine order of St Francis enjoyed huge popularity
in ancient Poland. The monks arrived in Cracow due to the
missionary activities of the great Italian preacher, St John Ca-
pistrano. At the foot of the Wawel Hill a timber church was built,
to be replaced in 1455 by a stone one founded by Cardinal
Olesnicki. It was destroyed during the Swedish siege of the
Wawel, and the present church from 1670-1680 was constructed
by the architect and military engineer Krzysztof Mieroszewski.
The church is set back from Stradomska Street, and the spacious
square in front of the facade is used for the church festivals and
3°7