Thesaurus

A cultural and artistic center since 14th century, Kraków was destroyed by Swedish wars in the 17th century, and later occupied by Austria from 1795-1918. It suffered Nazi attacks during World War II, and was also the location of a Nazi concentration camp, known as the Plaszow camp, in operation as a forced-labor camp from 1942-1944, and then a full concentration camp from 1944-1945. The camp held up to 20,000 people, and many thousands were killed by the SS during the camp's existence. Industry in Kraków revived after the war. The city is known for its rich architectural history, museums, and theaters.