Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

Historic Cities

Since time immemorial, Eastern Europe has been crossed

by major trade routes to Russia, Central Asia and the Near

East. Market towns grew rich from this commerce, and

their streets and squares were lined with fine architecture.

Some trad ing towns, such as Cracow in Poland, became,

for a time, the seat of royal dynasties and the centre of

political power before being side lined by history. Others,

notably the prom inent Baltic ports of Rīga and Tallinn,

spent centuries on the fringes of large empires before

finally emerging as the capitals of independent states.

26 EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE AT A GLANCE

Cracow

The capital of Poland’s

medieval kings and the site of

the biggest mar ket square in

Europe, Cracow is packed with

buildings from the medi eval

and Renaissance periods.

Sarajevo

An important trading centre in the Ottoman

Empire, Sarajevo has, over the centuries, been

home to Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic and

Jewish communities, all of whom have left their

striking architectural imprint on the city.

Dubrovnik

The Adriatic port of

Dubrovnik, in Croatia,

was an independent

city-state that thrived

on trade with the

Ottoman Empire. The

Baroque Old Town,

surrounded by stout

defensive walls, has

been well preserved.

Ljubljana

The Slovenian capital is rich in

Baroque churches and red-tiled

mansions. The tree-lined banks of

the Ljubljanica river provide the

perfect setting for a stroll.

BALTIC SEA

A

D

R

IA

T

IC

(^)
(^) S
E
A
POLAND
CZECH
REPUBLIC
SLOVAKIA
BOSNIA AND
HERZEGOVINA
HUNGARY
SERBIA
Vienna
CROATIA
AUSTRIA
SLOVENIA
MONTENEGRO