Vistula Boulevard in Kazimierz Dolny

Kazimierz Dolny built its wealth on the Vistula, and the riverside boulevard is the best place to understand how. From the promenade on the flood embankment you can see the parish church, the castle ruins and the tower on the hills, while along the bank stand Renaissance and Baroque granaries where, in the 16th and 17th centuries, grain waited to be shipped downriver to Gdańsk. Today tour boats moor here, and a walk at sunset is one of the nicest moments in town.

History: the port that drifted away

Kazimierz's golden age spanned the century from the mid-16th to the mid-17th century. That is when the town's layout took shape and large, richly decorated granaries rose along the Vistula and by the river port. Merchant families such as the Przybyłas, Czarnotas and Celejs made their fortunes on the grain trade. The boom was cut short by the Swedish wars, fires and epidemics, but the river itself sealed the town's fate: the Vistula's channel moved away from the line of granaries, and the trade passed to the growing town of Puławy.

In 1994 the urban and landscape ensemble of Kazimierz was declared a Monument of History, one of Poland's highest heritage designations. The boulevard is part of that landscape: the promenade on the embankment runs the full length of the town.

What to see

• The panorama of the hills with the parish church, castle ruins and tower, at its best in late-afternoon light.
• The Granary under the Crane from 1623, built "on the reef" by the port, which was once overlooked by harbour cranes known as żurawie, hence the name.
• The Twin Granary at the mouth of the Norowy Dół ravine and other granaries on Puławska Street.
• The landing stage, from which tour boats and launches set off in season through the Lesser Poland Vistula Gorge, including towards Janowiec and its Firlej castle.

Tripto tip

From the market square, walk down Senatorska Street past the Celej House, or take Nadwiślańska Street. The promenade is free and open at all times; allow an hour for a walk there and back, or two with a boat trip. Cruise schedules and the crossing to Janowiec change with the season, so check with the operators. Leave your car in one of the town's designated car parks, and take care right by the water when the river is high or the wind is strong.