Students from the Department of History and Politics visited the historic city of Kraków, Poland.
Beginning with an extensive walking tour of the historic centre, students explored some of the medieval and Renaissance heritage of Poland’s former capital, including the state apartments of Wawel Castle and the mixed Christian and Jewish settlement of Kazimierz.
They enjoyed a tour of the Collegium Maius, the oldest surviving part of the Jagiellonian University, whose alumni include the fifteenth-century astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus, and Pope John Paul II.
There were opportunities to learn about the nature and impact of the Austrian, German and Russian occupations of the city and to discuss the current political situation in Poland and the country’s relationship with the European Union.
Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History Dr Fiona Pogson said: “A visit to the memorial sites of Auschwitz-Birkenau provided an immensely profound experience. We would like to thank the staff and students of the Jagiellonian University’s Centre for European Studies for a very informative seminar and enjoyable social event.”