Neighborhood tours Tours Guided tours Culture & history Sightseeing Hidden gems Communist history

In a mere 10 km from the Old Town, there is a district 'Nowa Huta', built by the communists as an ideal socialist urban area. We encourage you to discover this unique yet little-known part of Kraków.

Highlights

• Discover Nowa Huta's unique historical narrative.
• Witness the clash between tradition and communism.
• Uncover communist-era architecture and its ideology.
• Explore a contrasting socialist cityscape.
• Experience Kraków's hidden socio-political heritage.

Description

'Nowa Huta' in English means 'new steel mill'. This mammoth manufacturing plant, along with a residential district for the steel mill workers, was built on the initiative of the communist government after the war. The district was meant to contrast with the 'old' Kraków with its religiosity, traditions, and anti-socialist sentiments. Nowa Huta was to be a city of the 'new people', those living without God, trusting in the ideals of communism. On this 2-hour Nowa Huta walking tour, a local guide takes us through the construction history and utopian concepts of this socialist city. We start our stroll from Central Square, once bearing the name of Lenin, followed by Avenue of Roses, the representative street of Nowa Huta, and proceed further into the district. We will visit, among others, the site of the battle for the cross and the first church in the 'godless city', as well as locations connected with the legacy and strikes of 'Solidarność'. Nowa Huta is sure to surprise us with its monumental neo-classical architecture of the Stalinist era.

Includes

licensed private guide

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund