Kraków i okolice w relacjach cudzoziemskich podróżników w czasach oświecenia

KRAKOW AND ITS SURROUNDINGS IN THE REPORTS OF FOREIGN VISITORS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT TIMES

The subject of the article are translations of reports of foreigners who, during their stay in Poland in the last three decades of the 18th century, visited the Krakow region. The work chronologically presents their observations related to Krakow and the surrounding areas, as well as their experiences in Poland. The focus of the article is on the similarity of the motives appearing in these reports, as well as on the differences in the travellers’ interest Polish reality and the attitudes they have towards it as expressed in their opinions, judgments and impressions. The analysis shows that foreign travellers express similar views (with few exceptions) about the buildings, the material condition and hygiene and cleanliness in the city space. First of all, the visitors headed to the Wawel Hill to see the castle and the cathedral. Some of them visited the university with the library, while everyone admired the Wieliczka mine, which was famous throughout Europe. Due to the interest in specific facts and people from the Polish past, travellers also visited Łobzów and Kazimierz. Leaving Krakow they passed Krzeszowice, Mogiła or Olkusz, but they did not devote much attention to these places. The reports cited in the article differ in the detailing of the descriptions of places visited, as well as the opinion on these places.