Kazimierz is Krakow's former Jewish quarter, separated from the Old Town by a few minutes on foot across a stone bridge. Founded as an independent town in 1335 by King Casimir III (after whom it is named), it became the centre of Jewish life in southern Poland for nearly 600 years, until the German occupation of 1939 emptied its population into the Krakow Ghetto across the river and then to the camps. Today it is the most atmospheric neighbourhood in the city — a complex layering of memory, renewal, and nightlife that doesn't fit any simple description.
The streets around Szeroka Street and Ulica Józefa retain several synagogues and Jewish cultural institutions, including the Remuh Synagogue (still active) and the Old Synagogue (now a museum). The area also has a concentration of excellent cafes, restaurants, and bars — and an increasingly international crowd drawn by the neighbourhood's combination of pre-war streetscapes and a genuine bohemian scene. The annual Jewish Culture Festival in late June and early July brings music, art, and lectures to venues across Kazimierz and is one of the best cultural events in Central Europe.