Few wartime tales have captured the imagination as much as that of Oskar Schindler, the flamboyant Nazi businessman who rebelled against Hitler, rescuing over a thousand Jews from the death-camps. Catapulted to fame by author Thomas Keneally and film-maker Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s odyssey is now known across the globe. And as it was, the reality of Oskar Schindler’s life is every bit as extraordinary as the books and movies proclaim.
Remarkably, much of the world that Oskar Schindler knew in Krakow has survived intact. The Schindler Factory still stands, as does its owner’s wartime apartment and the eerie house that was the residence of Camp Kommandant Amon Goeth. Spielberg shot his movie ‘Schindler’s List’ here in Krakow, using many locations that Schindler knew intimately. Our tour combines insights into Spielberg’s film with historical details of the wartime occupation itself.
Much of Spielberg’s filming was done in Kazimierz, the historic Jewish district, but we will explore the actual wartime ghetto over the river in Podgorze. There, besides the faded nineteenth century housing blocks themselves, fragments of the Old Ghetto Wall survive, as does the infamous Plac Zgoda (Concorde Square – now named after heroes of the ghetto), where Tadeusz Pankiewicz’s pharmacy provided a lone sanctuary for the embattled Jewish population.
A little further on is the actual site of the Plaszow Concentration Camp, where a striking monument recalls the victims of Hitler’s holocaust. The camp space is currently on the verge of a major memorial renovation, and a visit makes for a deeply moving experience.
* This tour can be combined with elements of the Jewish Kazimierz Tour.
Private tour with English speaking guide; visit to Schindler Factory museum (entrance included), walk around the Kazimierz district, as well as return transport with guide to nearby Płaszów work camp.
Booked a private walking tour . Our guide Paulina Kaspernek was excellent. Very professional , well informed and friendly .
Barbara, our tour guide, was great. She was extremely knowledgeable, personable and friendly. The museum at the factory is a gem.
We loved the tour an the tour guided Monica was patient with us getting the meeting point at the wrong place.
Monica our guide was outstanding. She was incredibly informative, but shared her knowledge with great empathy. She also had a great sense of humour. We covered a lot during the tour, which was on our first day, and this provided a good foundation for the rest of our visit.
Very impressive . My guide Monica was very informative & most pleasant.
Almost a 9, both driver and guide were first class but the tour was a little rushed; gave us a good insight into the city and it's history and showed us where we must return too and explore further. Recommended for the first day excursion as the guides are knowledgeable and insightful.
Anna our guide was so informative, and we were glad we booked a tour guide as there is so much information we dont think we would have had as much out of the tour without one.