The first documented mention of Krakow is the relation of the Cordobian merchant Ibrahim ibn Jakub from 965, in which he mentions a rich settlement surrounded by forests, at the intersection of trade routes. There are two other dates associated with that period, significant for the city's history: between 876 and 879, the Great Moravian prince Światopełk took up the later Lesser Poland, and after 955 Prince Bolesław Okrutny, brother of Saint Wacław, introduced the Czech governments. In the 10th century, Krakow was included in the newly formed Polish state - although it is difficult to say unequivocally whether it happened under the rule of Mieszko I in 990 or Bolesław the Brave in 999.

Situated on the Vistula River, Krakow was the royal capital of Poland until 1596 and has traditionally been one of the leading centers of Polish academic, economic, cultural and artistic life. Cited as one of Europe's most beautiful cities, its Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 and in 2000 it held the title of the European Capital of Culture.

Krakow has accumulated numerous, impressive historical monuments throughout its history. The most significant sites in the city are the royal Wawel Castle, the main Market Square with the Sukiennice Cloth Hall, St Mary's Basilica with the magnificent altarpiece by Wit Stwosz as well as the Barbican situated in the city walls and Kazimierz - old Jewish quarter. Krakow is home of the Jagiellonian University, one of the oldest universities in the world and traditionally Poland's most reputable institution of higher education.

Kraków is well-connected regarding transport, with a new airport just 17 km west of the city centre, a recently modernised railway and bus station on the edge of the Old Town, and with the roads connecting it to Katowice, Wrocław and Berlin to the west, Tarnów, Rzeszów and Lviv to the east, Kielce and Warsaw to the north and Vienna to the south. More about the accessibility of Krakow: Arrival-transport, Accessibility of Krakow

Kraków (source https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraków#)

The official website of Cracow: http://www.krakow.pl

Cracow Travel: http://www.cracow.travel/, http://infokrakow.pl/

Visit Malopolska: http://www.visitmalopolska.pl

Public transport: http://mpk.krakow.pl

Also see: http://www.krakow.pl/odwiedz_krakow/264,glowna.html,  http://krakow.naszemiasto.pl/