The Kraków Fire of 1850 started on 18 July and lasted several days. It is estimated to have destroyed about 10 percent of the city of Kraków, which was then part of the Austrian Empire's district of the Grand Duchy.

Background

In 1850 the city of Kraków was still heavily reliant on wood as construction material. Most of the 1700 buildings in the city were wooden, and the masonry ones had many wooden elements. The city had poor water infrastructure, and no full-time fire service.

The fire

The fire started on 18 July on city outskirts around the Krupnicza Street, in the grain mill area. The fire is attributed to an accident caused by a miller and a smith, who while fixing some equipment started a fire in a mill building which then spiraled out of control. The fire grew due to strong winds which spread it to nearby buildings, affecting the city center. Within hours it affected over eight streets, though it was stopped from spreading further.

Jagiellonian University The Jagiellonian University (Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...

students prevented it from causing more than superficial damage to the university's library. The spread of the fire was stopped within one day, but it took several more days and military's assistance to eliminate it completely. Krakow-cityplan by M Niewiarowski 1850

The fire caused the destruction of approximately one tenth of the city: 153 buildings, two palaces, two or three monasteries, and four churches.

Aftermath

The fire was responsible for subsequent economic stagnation in the city. The fire also made the city government increase the fire fighting budget, though the first (voluntary) fire service would not be established until 1865. Final restoration of all affected buildings was finished only in 1912.

Destroyed or damaged landmarks

* Bishop's Palace, Kraków *

Wielopolski Palace The Wielopolski Palace in Kraków, Poland, is the location of the Kraków City Council and the office of the President of Kraków. The palace and the courtyard buildings are located between the All Saints 3–4 Square (''Plac Wszystkich Świętyc ...

Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Kraków The Church of St. Francis of Assisi with Monastery of the Franciscan Order ( pl, Kościół św. Franciszka z Asyżu) located in the Old Town district of Kraków, Poland, is a Roman Catholic religious complex on the west side of All Saints Squa ...

* Basilica of Holy Trinity, Kraków

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kraków Fire of 1850 1850 in the Austrian Empire 1850s in Poland 1850 fires 19th-century fires in Europe History of Kraków Fires in Poland Fires in Austria Urban fires in Europe 1850 disasters in Europe 19th-century disasters in Poland