Arrival in Kraków with your transfer from the airport to the hotel in the center of the city. Time to relax; get acquainted. In the evening you enjoy a welcome meeting with a walk in the Old Town.

alking distance from the main market square)

Galician Circle Tour Created and led for PGSA by…

Dates - 2019:

Duration: Arrival: Departure:

June 5th-14th September 18th-27th

10 days Kraków Kraków

We offer you an unforgettable tour to the part of Poland known as Galicia, that includes:

10-day program prepared especially for members of PGSA, based on our 10 years of experience organizing genealogy tours and providing genealogy research 9 nights in the most beautiful Galician towns: Kraków (5 nights), Nowy Sącz, Sanok, Łaocut, Tarnów 14 towns to be visited: Kraków, Wadowice, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, Wieliczka, Wiśnicz, Stary Sącz, Nowy Sącz, Gorlice, Jasło, Sanok, Przemyśl, Łaocut, Rzeszów, Tarnów 5 genealogy & cultural history sessions:

- visit & lecture in the Diocesan Archive in Tarnów - presentation at the State Archive in Sanok - visit the Tarnów and Przemyśł Ethnographic Museums - "Galician Ancestry" - an afternoon workshop with our specialists

EXTRA: We offer individual 1- or 2-day trips before or after the program to the places related to your ancestry.

Overnight Kraków: 3- or 4-star hotel in a central location at walking distance from the main market square

DAY 1

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Overnight Kraków: 3- or 4-star hotel in a central location at walking distance from the main market square

DAY 3

Today we learn more about the Jewish heritage of Kraków. We start

the day by visiting the Jewish Ghetto - created for the purpose of

exploitation, terror, and persecution of over 60.000 pre-war Jews

from Krakow.

We see the exhibition "Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945",

located in the former administrative building of Oskar Schindler’s

Enamel Factory at 4 Lipowa Street.

Then we cross the river to the Jewish district called Kazimierz. It is an

exceptional and unusual place of a great social, architectural, cultural

and religious diversity. Once a separate town, it owes its unique

character to over five hundred years of the history of Polish Jews.

Overnight Kraków: 3- or 4-star hotel in a central location at walking distance from the main market square

DAY 4

In the morning we drive to Wadowice - the place of the birth of John Paul II. You can go into the house where this famous Pole once lived and try his favorite cream cake “kremówka”. We also visit the local church dedicated to his memory.

On the way back to Kraków we stop in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. This is a

breathtaking complex of buildings of great spiritual significance. It was

modeled on Calvary outside the city walls of Jerusalem and the place

is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can choose to visit from

over 40 chapels, churches, gardens and a monastery on the grounds.

DAY 2

We start exploring Krakow with a unique underground museum, below the Rynek, to following the traces of the identity of Kraków. The exhibition presents not only Kraków’s rich history, but also the connections between the city and mediaeval Europe’s chief centers of trade and culture. The tourist route under the Market Square leads between the stone and brick walls of the cellars of former trading sites.

Afterwards, as did Polish kings, we follow the Royal Route that takes us to the Wawel Castle - the most important residence of Polish kings. In 1138, Kraków became the capital of Poland and Wawel’s Cathedral became the coronation place of the Polish kings. Three dynasties made their home at Wawel – a splendid Renaissance royal residence with a splendid courtyard, its impressive volume is placed above the Wisła.

In the evening we welcome you with a Polish dinner.

After lunch we drive to Wieliczka, which is famous for the salt mine

that is unique in the history of mining as its rock salt deposits were

mined continuously from the 13th to the end of the 20th century. The

scale of excavation in this mine is very large, with corridors, galleries,

and chambers, as well as underground lakes totaling more than 120

miles in length on seven levels.

Overnight Kraków: 3- or 4-star hotel in a central location at walking distance from the main market square

DAY 5

Today, we start with a drive to the castle of Wiśnicz founded by the

local nobleman, Jan Kmita, in the second half of the fourteenth

century. Located on the hill by the Leksandrowka River, the castle was

built in Baroque style with Renaissance elements. Afterward it is time

to take a lesson in making a world known Polish dish – Pierogi, the

traditional Polish dumplings with various stuffings.

It is about high time to see how your ancestors lived! After breakfast

we visit the Ethnographic Park in Nowy Sącz - an open-air museum

attached to the Galician Town where on almost 20 hectares of historic

rural architecture has been preserved. There are both poor village

cottages, and the country estates of the rich. The interiors of the

cottages and country estates contain furniture and equipment used in

the house, as well as tools used in various crafts.

After dinner in a regional tavern of the Galician Town you are invited to join a workshop dedicated to Polish-Galician ancestry. Our specialist starts with a short presentation and then works with you on your genealogy. There is no better place to find out more about your Galician roots than this unique heritage complex!

Overnight Nowy Sącz: Gościniec Galicyjski - a hotel located in the town hall of the Galician Town

DAY 6

After breakfast it is time to go back to reality. We continue moving

east and make a few stops on the way to see:

Gorlice - one of the first places in the world where oil was discovered.

Biecz – We find the museum of medieval torture. Located in Biecz was

the only school in Europe that taught the profession of executioner.

Jasło - a place of origin of many Polish emigrants to the USA.

Our final destination is a small town called Łukowe, next to Sanok

where we overnight in a traditional countryside inn.

Also, on our way we see a few of the magnificent medieval wooden

churches listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Overnight Łukowe/Sanok: 3-star hotel in a picturesque landscape of the Bieszczady mountains

Overnight Łańcut: Hotel located in a castle or a nearby one

DAY 8

We start with a visit to Łańcut Castle - one of the most beautiful

aristocratic residences in Poland, famous for its excellent interiors &

extraordinarily interesting collection of horse-horse drawn carriages.

The next stop (after a very short ride) is Rzeszow where we see the

market square during the lunch break then take a walk in the

underground complex of the medieval basements located beneath

the square.

Overnight From Rzeszów we trael to Tarnów: 3-star hotel in the center

DAY 9

Today we continue our genealogy related activities by visiting the

Diocesan Archive in Tarnów where we have organized a special

lecture. Included is the opportunity to see the original 18th century

vital records from this area, learn some Latin, or even search for your

ancestors in original books not available in any other place.

After that, we take a walk around the Old Town and reach the

Ethnographic Museum of Tarnow. It is an exceptional place where

you can feel the spirit of 19th century daily life in Galicia.

A farewell lunch in Tarnów is the last activity in our program, after which we drive to Kraków where you can prepare for leaving

with a piece of Poland in your heart.

Overnight Kraków: 3- or 4-star hotel in a central location at walking distance from the main market square

DAY 10

Leisure time and departure from Kraków.

Your transfer to the airport is included in the tour.

DAY 7

We start the day visiting the State Archive in Sanok where you get

a chance to find out more about the vital records in Galicia, the

availability of records in Polish public archives, and the research

possibilities for Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics, Russian

Orthodox and Jewish records.

Then we progress to Przemyśl where we start with a walk and

lunch at a beautiful medieval market square.

In the afternoon we explore The National Museum of The Przemyśl.

The over 100 year old museum includes several branches including

archeological, ethnographic, historical, art and crafts, and others.

Afterwards, we return westward to the 17th century castle in Łaocut

and our stay for the night.

Pre- or Post-Tour Individual Genealogical Services Before or after your PGSA tour, we offer you two additional services by which you can explore the history of your particular family lines.

We can perform research as directed by you based on your needs, the “brick walls” you have come upon or to expand or deepen what you already have completed.

Want to visit the actual soil of where your ancient roots lie? Let us take you to the areas and towns where your ancestors lived, to the churches where they worshipped, and possibly to the fields in which they worked and the cemeteries where they were buried.

To coordinate these plans, begin your contact with us through PGSA as you register for your PGSA tour.

Costs

$2,100 Per person ($210/day)

$ 679 Single supplement

Includes:

Transport from and to Kraków airport. Let us know if you are arriving or departing by train or other means because of personal travel.

Comfortable, air-conditioned transportation

Accommodation in 3- or 4-star hotels, buffet breakfast included (9 nights)

Meals as per itinerary (7 x lunch, 1 x welcome dinner, 1 x work-shop dinner, 1 x farewell lunch)

English-speaking tour escort assistance

Entrance fees to all the places mentioned in the itinerary and obligatory local tour guides

3 genealogy sessions: Work-shop in Nowy Sacz State Archive in Sanok Diocesan Archive in Tarnów

Important Notes:

Passport (not expiring within six months of return travel); No visa requirement

Please advise us of any dietary or health restrictions

On the PGSA website, please refer to “Some Important Points” on the Itinerary page and the

“Terms and Conditions” on the Registration Form for further details.

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