Religious Studies School Trip to Krakow

A WST tour to London will support the study of elements of the following exam board specifications:

AQA

GCSE

Paper A

Section 3.1 - Component 1: The study of religions: beliefs, teachings, and practices

            3.2 - Component 2: Thematic studies

A level

Section 3.1 - Component 1: Philosophy of religion and ethics

EDEXCEL

GCSE

Paper B

Study 3 Religion, Philosophy and Social Justice

A level

Paper 1: Philosophy of Religion

Paper 2: Religion & Ethics

Paper 3: New Testament Studies

OCR

GCSE

2c    Content of religious beliefs and teachings & practices

Content of Religion, philosophy and ethics in the modern world from a religious perspective

A level

2c           Content of Developments in Christian Thought

               Content of Philosophy of religion

               Content of Religion and ethics

WJEC

GCSE

Unit 1    Christianity – core beliefs, teachings and practices

A Level

Unit 3    A Study of Christianity

Unit 4    Religion and Ethics

Unit 5  Philosophy of Religion

JUDAISM

Auschwitz-Birkenau

An integral chapter in the story of the Holocaust, Auschwitz-Birkenau was the largest of the extermination camps in Poland and is the only remaining structure of this type.

Guided tour: A 3½ hour guided visit with an official Auschwitz guide is essential for school groups. A maximum of 30 visitors is allocated to a guide, so if you have more than 30 in your group you will be split into 2 groups. Your guide will allow approx. 90 minutes at the Auschwitz I site, then you will transfer on your coach (5 minute drive) to Auschwitz II-Birkenau for a further 90 minute tour.

Galicia Museum 

The Galicia Jewish Museum exists to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to celebrate the Jewish culture of Polish Galicia, presenting Jewish history from a new perspective. This museum is a great centre for Holocaust and Jewish studies and offers a number of services. Those most suited to GCSE and A Level students are: 

Traces of Memory permanent exhibition

The exhibition pieces together a picture of the relics of Jewish life and culture in Polish Galicia that can still be seen today, interpreting these traces in a manner which is informative, accessible, and thought-provoking. Your group will be guided round the exhibition by a specialist guide from the museum. 

Meet a Concentration Camp Survivor or Member of the Righteous Among the Nations

The Galicia Museum offers a unique opportunity for students to meet and engage with somebody who experienced the Holocaust first hand and to fully understand what life was like at this time. We highly recommend this experience to you. Not only will this unique chance to experience ‘living history’ enable your students to empathise further with their subject, it is quite simply something that you will remember forever.

Specialist workshops

The Galicia Museum offers half day workshops based on a range of topics to support study of Jewish culture, tradition and the Holocaust. Workshops are led by qualified, experienced educators from the Museum’s Education Department.

Guided Walking Tour Of Krakow

A half day walking tour is an essential part of your itinerary. Krakow is such a compact city which allows you to cover a lot of important sites and locations within the walking tour. Our walking tours are all led by guides from the Galicia Museum who are Graduates of Holocaust and/or Jewish Studies. This means that you won’t just get the regular script from a local city guide. You’ll get an in depth expert insight into the reality of Jewish life before and during the Holocaust. The tour will generally focus on:

Kazimierz

This former Jewish district was once the hub of Jewish life in Krakow. Your tour will give you an insight into where the community lived, worked and worshipped prior to the occupation. Sites to visit are Synagogues including the Remu’h Synagogue, cemeteries and market squares. 

Podgorze

The Wartime Ghetto. The Jewish population in Krakow was moved into this small area in March 1941. For many Polish Jews this ghetto was the last stop before the death camps. 

Schindler Factory And Museum 

The old enamelware factory, made famous by the film Schindler’s List, is located in Podgorze. You can view this from the outside as part of your guided tour, or go inside to view the brand new exhibition covering the story of the Jews in Nazi occupied Krakow.

CHRISTIANITY 

Czestochowa

Take a full day coach trip to Częstochowa where you can visit the Monastery of Jasna Góra. This is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the world and is home to the icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa. This Monastery is seen as the Centre of Polish Catholicism. An English speaking guide will accompany you for the day which will include a guided tour of the Monastery, lunch in a local restaurant and some free time for sightseeing.

Guided Walking Tour - Christianity In Krakow 

Krakow is often known as a ‘northern Rome’ for its abundance of historic Roman Catholic churches. This guided walking tour will focus on St Mary’s Church which has one the largest Gothic altars in Europe, along with a visit to Wawel Royal Cathedral and Chambers on Wawel Hill. You can also combine the Pope’s window and the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in this trip. 

Guided Walking Tour - Traces Of Pope John Paul II 

In Poland Pope John Paul II is a national hero. Born in Wadowice, a town close to Krakow, he became the Bishop of Krakow at age 38. On this half day walking tour you will walk in the footsteps of this political and spiritual giant including St Florian Church where he served as a Chaplain, St Mary’s Church and the Pope’s window at Franciszkańska Street.

Sanctuary Of Divine Mercy

A visit here allows visitors to view the Lord’s Mercy icon in the Old Church which also contains the mortal remains of Saint Sister Faustina, the herald of Divine Mercy, who commissioned this icon. You can also visit the new Basilica which was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 2002. The Sanctuary is located in the Łagiewniki district of Krakow and is reached by coach. This visit is guided.

Krakow Old Town

Krakow Old Town is a centre for medieval heritage. A guided tour of the Old Town including the iconic Wawel Hill with the Castle and Cathedral and finishing in the Old Town Square, will take you from 11^th Century right up to the present day. The Square is surrounded by restaurants, high street shops and smaller souvenir shops. Combined with the street entertainers, there are lots to keep you busy. 

Wieliczka Salt Mines  

One of Poland’s most visited tourist sites, students can take a guided tour through this fascinating underground city to see centuries of history and tradition. The salt mines are a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Pink Bowling

Ideal if you want to keep your students entertained in the evening.

Park Wodny Water Park

This is Poland’s biggest indoor pool, with slides, wave pools, rapids, climbing walls, fountains and also a snack bar.

Galeria Krakowska

This is a huge indoor shopping centre located next to the main train station, just a short walk from the Old Town Square. 

Galeria Kazimierz

A modern indoor shopping centre located on the outskirts of the Kazimierz District. You’ll find lots of high street stores, well known brands and a great range of eateries to choose from.

RESTAURANTS

Why not make a night of it and book your evening meal in a traditional restaurant? We can arrange for your students to have dinner in a traditional Jewish restaurant or have a traditional Polish meal with a folklore show. We can also book restaurant meals with a more international menu around the Old Town Square.