Kazimierz Dolny Sights

  1. Castle

    Along ul Zamkowa is what is left of the Castle. Originally built in 1341 as a stronghold against the Tartar incursion, the castle was extended in the 16th century and embellished further during the Renaissance. The castle fell into ruin after its partial destruction by the Swedes; the remaining fragments offer a pleasant view over the town and the Vistula.

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  2. Former Synagogue

    The 18th-century Former Synagogue was originally wooden. It was rebuilt in brick in the 18th century and became a cinema after WWII. Just behind is the reconstructed wooden building, which once housed the kosher butcher. There is little to signify that this area was once the Jewish quarter.

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  3. Jewish Monument

    The most overt reminder of the Jewish legacy of Kazimierz Dolny is the Jewish Monument in front of the old cemetery. The Nazis murdered some 3000 Jews from the town and its surrounds and desecrated the old cemetery. The Jewish Monument was assembled in 1984 from several hundred tombstone fragments collected here. The monument is just over 1km from the Rynek, on the road to Opole Lubelskie.

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  4. Museum of Goldsmithery

    The tiny Museum of Goldsmithery seems overpriced for its size, but some of the gold and silverwork collection is captivating. Jewellery lovers will be particularly enraptured with the unique modern designs upstairs.

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  5. Natural History Museum

    On the Puławy road, the Natural History Museum is housed in a large, finely restored granary from 1591. Though there is little information in English, kids will enjoy seeing the range of birds, animals and insects (albeit stuffed). Of particular interest is the video showing the process of taxidermy (animal stuffing, which it turns out, is far less gruesome than it sounds) and a busy beehive whose occupants are blissfully oblivious to the fact that they live in a Big Brother beehive.

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  6. Parish Church

    The Gothic Parish Church presiding over the Rynek was built in the mid-14th century but remodelled when Renaissance taste swept through Poland. The ornate wooden organ from 1620 sounds as lavish as it looks; organ recitals are often held here. Note the Renaissance stalls in the chancel and the stucco decoration of the nave's vault, a classic example of the Lublin-Renaissance style typical of the region. Be sure to raise an eyebrow at the stag-antler chandelier.

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  7. Reformed Franciscan Church

    The Reformed Franciscan Church , was built at the end of the 16th century but lost its original style with subsequent Baroque and neoclassical decorations. The Franciscan brethren were compelled to leave the church twice in history: first between 1866 and 1928 when the tsar ordered the annulment of the order; and later under the Nazi occupation, when the Gestapo appropriated the complex.

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  8. Three Crosses' Mountain

    The path to the right slightly uphill from the parish church, leads to the Three Crosses' Mountain . If you're coming from the watchtower, take the path to the left. There is some historical debate about the relationship between the crosses and the plague, which decimated the population of the town in 1708. It's doubtful whether human remains found at the site when the crosses were erected in 1852 belong to plague victims. Some historians believe that the site was referred to as 'cross mountain' long before the cholera epidemic. Whatever the origins of its name, the mountain affords sensational views.

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  9. Town Museum

    The House of the Celej Family (Kamienica Celejowska), built around 1635, contains the Town Museum . Quaint though the archaeological specimens are, the real highlight here is the gallery showing the town's artistic portrayal by artists who have returned over the years to refine their skills and share their perspectives on this small pocket of Poland.

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  10. Watchtower

    The Watchtower, 200m uphill, was built a century before the castle and over the years served as a fortress, watchtower, lighthouse and prison. There is a panoramic view from the top of the 20m structure.

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