Communist Kraków - Nowa Huta tour

Communism originates from the Latin expression ferm communis, which means ‘common’ or ‘universal’. Its creators were inspired by the idea of trying to find a way to eliminate differences between people. It sounds amazing, especially for citizens living in countries with vast gaps between rich and poor. When this theory was put into practice, however, it claimed over 100 million lives before the Soviet Union finally collapsed. Instead of creating an ideal society where everyone shared what they had, the communist system created a totalitarian police state and tried to enforce conformity among its citizens. Well could you imagine two happy girls wearing similar dresses at the same party? Impossible! People have the right to be different. Forced equality is against human rights!

Nowa Huta is perfect place to understand the paradoxes of communism. A model communist city built in the monumental socialist-realist style in a country that had just suffered great loses during the Second World War. But, for communist party leaders at that time, the costs were meaningless. Tangible proof of communist power was the only thing that mattered! This ideal city was supposed to be inhabited by ideal communist citizens. Homo sapiens (thinking people) are useless in all types of regimes because when you think, there is the dangerous possibility that you won’t agree with those who think for you, in this case: Marx and Lenin. The solution to this problem was to form a new human being: homo sovieticus – people who would follow the Party without question.

Despite this, the communist dream didn’t work out in Poland. Those who were supposed to be homo sovieticus eventually fought against and overthrew the regime.

Join us and see one of the best examples of an ideal communist city. Beware: we will try to brainwash you with propaganda so you will become a true comrade… Just to fight the system at the end!

During the tour you will visit:
• Central Square and the “Solidarity Monument”
• Monumental Avenue of Roses
• Coffee house: propaganda movie “Direction Nowa Huta” about the beginnings of Nowa Huta, 11 minutes *
• “Josif Stalin II” tank
• The Ark of the Lord church