Who We Are:
City and Main Square--Rynek Glowny--from St. Mary's Church Tower. Photo by Wieslaw Majka, Krakow (c) 2013

Established in 1973, the Kraków-Rochester Sister Cities Committee, Inc., is a member of International Sister Cities of Rochester, NY, Inc. It is a committee of volunteers who promote, organize, and facilitate mutual exchanges between Rochester and Kraków, Poland, one of the oldest medieval cities in Europe, founded in 1257. Today’s Kraków is the commercial, industrial, education and center of a region of 1 million, with convenient international access by air, rail, and highway. It is recognized worldwide for its vibrant cultural life. Its Jagiellonian University, one of the oldest in Europe, was founded in 1364 by King Casimir the Great, on the following premises: "We have appointed colleges for the canon law, civil law, the medical sciences and liberal arts, and designated suitable dwellings for the aforesaid doctors, masters, scholars scribes, and book vendors." Kraków has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. From the rich architecture of Wawel Hill and the Old Town, the Kazimierz Jewish district and sites linked with the late Pope John Paul II, to stunning sculptures of the Wieliczka salt mine and the hiking trails and ski slopes of nearby Zakopane in the Tatry mountains, each tourist will find his and her own “Magic Kraków”.
Our Mission:
The Kraków-Rochester Sister Cities Committee aims to create greater understanding and appreciation of each community’s cultural, technical, economic, and other achievements and diversity through mutually beneficial people-to-people connections.

What We Do:
The Old City, the Rynek, Wawel Castle, and the Wisla River. Photo by Wieslaw Majka, Krakow, (c) 2013

The Kraków-Rochester Sister Cities Committee supports student and faculty exchanges between high schools, the Jagiellonian University and University of Rochester through the UofR School of Medicine and Dentistry and the Skalny Center for Polish and Central European Studies, and seeks to develop further connections between individuals and institutions. These connections rely on the efforts of community institutions and volunteers and we welcome ideas and efforts. The committee has presented music and theatrical by local and visiting performers, historical exhibits, and traditional arts workshops such as construction of the Kraków Christmas Crèche, or szopka. In 2013 it will produce a series of cultural events in partnership with the Polish Heritage Society of Rochester to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the sister cities relationship. Visit the Magic Kraków website for interesting information and links.

Kraków-Rochester Sister Cities Committee Events
The Kraków-Rochester Sister Cities Committee celebrated the 40th anniversary of the tie with Kraków during 2013.


Contact the Kraków-Rochester Sister Cities Committee: Contact Michael Leach, Chairman, by email (click on name) or at 585-244-8067. The Kraków-Rochester Sister Cities Committee is an affiliate of the Polish Heritage Society of Rochester, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. Your contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Send contributions to the Kraków-Rochester Sister Cities Committee, Inc., c/o Michael Leach, City Hall Room 307A, 30 Church Street, Rochester, NY 14614.