Sandomierz, Poland

Sandomierz, Poland ... the River San. There were settlements here already in prehistoric times (8th century). The town developed rapidly thanks to its good location at a communication land and waterway crossroads. Our walk about this unique town is best begun with the panorama as viewed from the Vistula River, or from the tower of the city gate known as the Brama Opatowska. Next we head for the Market Square (Rynek). Market Square (Rynek) In the centre of the market place stands the 14th-century Gothic Town Hall, with later Renaissance additions. Its ground floor houses the Regional Museum collection and its basement a period coffeehouse. The Cathedral is the town's most impressive religious edifice, founded in 1380 by King Casimir the Great. Its interior has rare polychromatic decorations by Ruthenian masters. The house of Jan Dlugosz, the 15th-century chronicler, may be reached by a little street of the same name. The brick edifice was once a priests' house, and now contains the religious art collection of the diocesan museum. Sandomierz also has a subterranean system of corridors made by miners, now offering unusual 400-metre visitors' promenade.