Kraków Old Town is the historic central area of
Kraków
, officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...
, Poland.
[Ingrid Gustafson]
Let's Go: Eastern Europe
Published by Macmillan, page 444. Let's Go Publications, 2008. It is one of the most famous old areas in Poland today and was the centre of Poland's political life from 1038 until King
Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa (, ; 20 June 1566 – 30 April 1632
N.S.) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1587 to 1632 and, as Sigismund, King of Sweden from 1592 to 1599. He was the first Polish sovereign from the House of Vasa. Re ...
relocated his court to
Warsaw
Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...
in 1596.
The entire medieval old town is among the first sites chosen for the
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
's original
World Heritage List
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritag ...
, inscribed as ''Cracow's Historic Centre''.
[Properties inscribed on the World Heritage list, Poland.](_blank)
UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Last updated: 3 September 2010[2nd session of the Committee](_blank)
UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Washington, D.C. 5–8 September 1978. The old town is also one of Poland's official national
Historic Monuments (''
Pomnik historii
Historic Monument (, ) is one of several categories of objects of cultural heritage in Poland, objects of cultural heritage (in the singular, ''zabytek'') in Poland.
To be recognized as a Polish historic monument, an object must be declared suc ...
'') chosen in the first round, as designated 16 September 1994, and tracked by the
National Heritage Board of Poland.
The Old Town is known in Polish as ''Stare Miasto''. It is part of the city's
first administrative district which is also named "Stare Miasto", although it covers a wider area than the Old Town itself.
Medieval Kraków was surrounded by a 3 km (1.9 mi) defensive wall complete with 46 towers and seven main entrances leading through them. The fortifications around the Old Town were erected over the course of two centuries.
The current
architectural plan
In architecture and building engineering, a floor plan is a technical drawing to scale, showing a view from above, of the relationships between rooms, spaces, traffic patterns, and other physical features at one level of a structure.
Dimensio ...
of Stare Miasto – the 13th-century merchants' town – was drawn up in 1257 after the destruction of the city during the
Tatar invasions
These are lists of battles of the Mongol invasion of Europe.
Lists of battles
Mongol invasions of Eastern Europe Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' (1223, 1237–1241)
Mongol invasion of Volga Bulgaria (1223–1236)
* 1223: First Mongol ...
of 1241 followed by raids of 1259 and repelled in 1287.
[Andrew Beattie, Landmark Publishing, Tim Pepper]
Stare Miasto, the Old Town, Krakow
Published by Hunter Publishing The district features the centrally located
Rynek Główny
Rynek may refer to the following places:
* Rynek, Masovian Voivodeship (east-central Poland)
* Rynek, Subcarpathian Voivodeship (south-east Poland)
* Rynek, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (north Poland)
{{geodis ...
, or Main Square, the
largest medieval town square of any European city.
[Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door](_blank)
Supplementary: "the biggest square in medieval Europe."
There is a number of historic landmarks in its vicinity, such as
St. Mary's Basilica (''Kościół Mariacki''),
Church of St. Wojciech (''St. Adalbert's''), Church of St. Barbara, as well as other national treasures. At the centre of the plaza, surrounded by
''kamienice'' (row houses) and
noble
A noble is a member of the nobility.
Noble may also refer to:
Places Antarctica
* Noble Glacier, King George Island
* Noble Nunatak, Marie Byrd Land
* Noble Peak, Wiencke Island
* Noble Rocks, Graham Land
Australia
* Noble Island, Gr ...
residences, stands the
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
cloth hall
Sukiennice (currently housing gift shops, restaurants and merchant stalls) with the
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art is an art museum in Washington, D.C., United States, located on the National Mall, between 3rd and 9th Streets, at Constitution Avenue NW. Open to the public and free of charge, the museum was privately established in ...
upstairs. It is flanked by the
Town Hall Tower (''Wieża ratuszowa'').
The whole district is bisected by
the Royal Road, the coronation route traversed by the
Kings of Poland. The Route begins at
St. Florian's Church outside the northern flank of the old city walls in the
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
suburb of Kleparz; passes the
Barbican of Kraków (''Barbakan'') built in 1499, and enters Stare Miasto through the
Florian Gate. It leads down
Floriańska Street through the Main Square, and up Grodzka to
Wawel
The Wawel Royal Castle (; ''Zamek Królewski na Wawelu'') and the Wawel Hill on which it sits constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in Poland. A fortified residency on the Vistula River in Kraków, it was established o ...
, the former seat of Polish royalty overlooking the
Vistula river
The Vistula (; ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest in Europe, at in length. Its drainage basin, extending into three other countries apart from Poland, covers , of which is in Poland.
The Vistula rises at Barania Góra ...
.
In the 19th century most of the Old Town fortifications were demolished.
The moat encircling the walls was filled in and turned into a
green belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy, and land-use zone designation used in land-use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wilderness, wild, or agricultural landscape, land surrounding or neighboring urban areas. Similar concepts ...
known as
Planty Park.
History
The first mention of Kraków dates back to the second half of the ninth century. By the end of tenth century the city was incorporated into the Polish state under the rule of
Piast dynasty
The House of Piast was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. The first documented List of Polish monarchs, Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I of Poland, Mieszko I (–992). The Poland during the Piast dynasty, Piasts' royal rule in Pol ...
. The
episcopal bishopric was awarded to Kraków in 1000 and around that time, it became the residence of Polish kings for centuries to come. The history of the old city of Kraków revolves mainly around its Old Town District of today. Here, the
regalia
Regalia ( ) is the set of emblems, symbols, or paraphernalia indicative of royal status, as well as rights, prerogatives and privileges enjoyed by a sovereign, regardless of title. The word originally referred to the elaborate formal dress and ...
were stored and, back in early Middle Ages, a cathedral school was erected.
Around 700 A.D., local tribes initiated the process of forming the
Vistulan State by uniting with each other. Numerous remains of a once massive earth embankment encircling
Wawel Hill survived till this day. A chest with 4,200 iron axes weighing about 4 tons was found in a basement of a house at Kanoniczna 19 street. These axes were commonly known under the name of "płacidłos" which is a word derived from the Polish verb "płacić" – to pay. As it happens the axes were a main legal tender in the neighboring
Great Moravian State. The value of the treasure chest is the greatest to be discovered thus far and testifies to Kraków's significant wealth and power in the region. At Wawel's foot, in the place where now Kanoniczna, Grodzka and other neighboring streets are located, remains of a
Vistulan settlement called Okół were found. This settlement, the beginnings of which can be dated at least back to the early ninth century, was surrounded by an enormous oak palisade and, in the place where now the Straszewska and St. Gertrude's streets run, by one of Vistula's arms. Near
Main Market Square – specifically near
Church of St. Wojciech and
Church of St. Mary and
Bracka street - another discovery was made. Found here were the relics of craft workshops and of dwelling houses which were originally raised near
Vistula
The Vistula (; ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest in Europe, at in length. Its drainage basin, extending into three other countries apart from Poland, covers , of which is in Poland.
The Vistula rises at Barania Góra i ...
. What is more, under
St. Wojciech's Church parts of a wooden temple were discovered. In those days
Vistula
The Vistula (; ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest in Europe, at in length. Its drainage basin, extending into three other countries apart from Poland, covers , of which is in Poland.
The Vistula rises at Barania Góra i ...
had many arms which in turn formed several little islands in Kraków's centre.
Kazimierz was one of such islands. It is also possible that Okół,
Wawel
The Wawel Royal Castle (; ''Zamek Królewski na Wawelu'') and the Wawel Hill on which it sits constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in Poland. A fortified residency on the Vistula River in Kraków, it was established o ...
and the
Main Market Square were islands separated from the mainland by moats or
Vistula's arms. Also, many structures were found on
Wawel
The Wawel Royal Castle (; ''Zamek Królewski na Wawelu'') and the Wawel Hill on which it sits constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in Poland. A fortified residency on the Vistula River in Kraków, it was established o ...
but it is extremely difficult to establish when they were built.
The bishops residing at
Wawel
The Wawel Royal Castle (; ''Zamek Królewski na Wawelu'') and the Wawel Hill on which it sits constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in Poland. A fortified residency on the Vistula River in Kraków, it was established o ...
and the prince's court provided a strong intellectual atmosphere. Since the 14th century, Kraków was the site of royal coronations. Under
Casimir III the Great
Casimir III the Great (; 30 April 1310 – 5 November 1370) reigned as the King of Poland from 1333 to 1370. He also later became King of Ruthenia in 1340, retaining the title throughout the Galicia–Volhynia Wars. He was the last Polish king fr ...
the
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University (, UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by Casimir III the Great, King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and one of the List of oldest universities in con ...
, one of Europe's oldest institutions of higher learning, was founded.
In 1386 the Polish throne was entrusted to Lithuanian prince
Władysław Jagiełło, husband of
Queen Jadwiga. Jagiełło founded the next Polish dynasty, the
Jagiellon dynasty. Kraków instantly became the capital of a large monarchy which propelled the city's political and cultural development. Many great artists did their work in Kraków at that time.
Renaissance
The Old Town saw considerable development during the
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
. During this period
Wawel Cathedral
The Wawel Cathedral (), formally titled the Archcathedral Basilica of Stanislaus of Szczepanów, Saint Stanislaus and St. Wenceslas, Saint Wenceslaus, () is a Catholic cathedral situated on Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland. Nearly 1000 years old, it ...
was rebuilt to include the architectural features of the Italian Renaissance.
Bona Sforza
Bona Sforza (2 February 1494 – 19 November 1557) was Queen consort, Queen of Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569), Poland and List of Lithuanian consorts, Grand Duchess of Lithuania as the second wife of Sigismund the Old, and Duchess of Bari and ...
, the second wife of
Sigismund I of Poland, asked
Bartolommeo Berrecci, Francisco the Florentian, Giovanni Maria Padovano,
Santi Gucci and others to do this task. As a result, Kanoniczna Street became a part of the Old Town. It carries many features that are typical for that period. With the passing of
the last Jagiellon king, the political life of Poland began to move to
Warsaw
Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...
.
Baroque
The Baroque Era emerged in the beginning of the 17th century. In Poland
Sigismund III became a prominent patron of the arts. Under his direction, architect
Giovanni Trevano worked in Kraków and redesigned the
Church of Saints Peter and Paul in a
Baroque style
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from the early 17th century until the 1750s. It followed Renaissance art and Mannerism and preceded the Rococo (i ...
. During that period the Old Town was destroyed twice during a
Swedish invasion. Towards the end of the 17th century, the
Church of St. Anne was built as was the
Church of St. Casimir the Prince, known for its
catacombs
Catacombs are man-made underground passages primarily used for religious purposes, particularly for burial. Any chamber used as a burial place is considered a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman Empire.
Etym ...
.
During the first half of the 18th century, some outstanding works of art were created by fine architects including Kacper Bażanka and Franciszek Placidi. The culture of the Baroque era left a lasting mark on this part of the city.
Gothic churches were converted into the spirit of the Baroque era and were fitted with new altars, sculptures, and paintings.
In 1794, the armies of
Tadeusz Kościuszko
Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko (; 4 or 12 February 174615 October 1817) was a Polish Military engineering, military engineer, statesman, and military leader who then became a national hero in Poland, the United States, Lithuania, and ...
rallied to defend Poland against
foreign partitions. The
Kościuszko Uprising ended with their defeat, and in 1795 Poland underwent its
final partition, after which Kraków became a part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire
Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...
. In spite of these political developments, Kraków in a sense remained important for Polish patriots. The city's many cultural monuments became national memorials and the only representation of national identity for the next century.
Foreign rule
In the 19th century, Austrian Emperor
Franz I decided to liquidate the long-neglected
city fortifications. The liquidation was carried out during the time of the
Duchy of Warsaw
The Duchy of Warsaw (; ; ), also known as the Grand Duchy of Warsaw and Napoleonic Poland, was a First French Empire, French client state established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1807, during the Napoleonic Wars. It initially comprised the ethnical ...
. Thanks to the efforts of Professor Feliks Radwański, the northern part of the walls were saved, including the
Barbican, the
Florian Gate and three towers which once marked the starting point of
the Royal Road along which a new monarch would parade to the place of his coronation at Wawel Cathedral. The
Planty Park was created in the place of the destroyed
fortifications
A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from La ...
.
During this period the
Juliusz Słowacki Theatre was constructed. It is located at Holy Ghost Square. The theatre was built in place of an old hospital that was run by the
Order of the Holy Ghost
The Order of the Holy Ghost (also known as Hospitallers of the Holy Spirit) is a Catholic religious order. It was founded in 1180 in Montpellier by Gui of Montpellier, the son of William VII of Montpellier, for the care of the sick by groups of ...
. The building is an example of the Polish
Eclectic architectural style. In 1850
a fire spread through the city and caused substantial damages.
In 1876 prince
Władysław Czartoryski
Prince Władysław (Ladislaus) Czartoryski (3 July 1828 – 23 June 1894) was a Polish noble, political activist in exile, collector of art, and founder of the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków.
Early life
Czartoryski was born in Warsaw, Congres ...
gave the city some of his artistic and patriotic collections. Three years later, the
National Museum in Kraków was established. Kraków became the centre of museology in Poland. Famous artists such as
Jan Matejko
Jan Alojzy Matejko (; also known as Jan Mateyko; 24 June 1838 – 1 November 1893) was a Polish painter, a leading 19th-century exponent of history painting, known for depicting nodal events from Polish history. His works include large scale ...
and
Stanisław Wyspiański
Stanisław Mateusz Ignacy Wyspiański (; 15 January 1869 – 28 November 1907) was a Polish playwright, painter, poet, and interior and furniture designer. A patriotic writer, he created symbolic national dramas accordant with the artisti ...
worked in the Old Town, which was also the place where numerous political independence movements were born.
Wartime
On 6 September 1939, German forces entered Kraków. The city became the capital of the
General Government
The General Government (, ; ; ), formally the General Governorate for the Occupied Polish Region (), was a German zone of occupation established after the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, Slovak Republic (1939–1945), Slovakia and the Soviet ...
. The oppression of Jews began and a
concentration camp
A concentration camp is a prison or other facility used for the internment of political prisoners or politically targeted demographics, such as members of national or ethnic minority groups, on the grounds of national security, or for exploitati ...
was created in
Plaszow. The Old Town was plundered and many works of art were stolen. Museums, schools and theatres were closed. Professors were arrested. Jewish synagogues were devastated, despoiled of ceremonial objects and turned into storehouses for ammunition, firefighting equipment and Nazi general storage sites.
On 18 January 1945, the
Soviet
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
forces of the
2nd Ukrainian Front
The 2nd Ukrainian Front () was a front of the Red Army during the Second World War.
History
On October 20, 1943, the Steppe Front was renamed the 2nd Ukrainian Front.
In mid-May 1944 Malinovsky took over the 2nd Ukrainian Front.
During t ...
under the command of Marshal
Ivan Konev
Ivan Stepanovich Konev ( rus, Ива́н Степа́нович Ко́нев, p=ɪˈvan sʲtʲɪˈpanəvʲɪtɕ ˈkonʲɪf, links=no; 28 December 1897 – 21 May 1973) was a Soviet general and Marshal of the Soviet Union who led Red Army forc ...
entered Kraków and forced the German army to withdraw. Kraków emerged as a city in the newly established
People's Republic of Poland
The Polish People's Republic (1952–1989), formerly the Republic of Poland (1947–1952), and also often simply known as Poland, was a country in Central Europe that existed as the predecessor of the modern-day democratic Republic of Poland. ...
.
The Old Town today
Today the Old Town attracts visitors from all over the world. The historic centre is one of 17 places in Poland that are included on the
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
s. The architectural design of the Old Town has survived many cataclysms of the past and has retained the original form that was established in medieval times.
Throughout the year the Old Town is lively and crowded. There are many tourists, indefatigable florists, and lined up
horse-drawn carriages waiting to give a ride. The place is always vibrant with life especially in and around the
Main Market Square, one of the biggest squares in Europe, which came into existence when the city was given
Magdeburg Rights
Magdeburg rights (, , ; also called Magdeburg Law) were a set of town privileges first developed by Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor (936–973) and based on the Flemish Law, which regulated the degree of internal autonomy within cities and villages gr ...
in 1257. Tourist attractions such as the
Town Hall Tower, the
Sukiennice (also known as the Cloth Hall), old
tenements
A tenement is a type of building shared by multiple dwellings, typically with flats or apartments on each floor and with shared entrance stairway access. They are common on the British Isles, particularly in Scotland. In the medieval Old Town, i ...
with fine shops, and
Adam Mickiewicz Monument are all located there. While near the monument, one can listen to the
heynal, which is played each hour from the highest tower of
St. Mary's Church.
There are many cafes, pubs and clubs, which are located in medieval basements and cellars with
vaulted ceilings. The most famous places include "
Wierzynek" Restaurant and Club "Pod Jaszczurami". Numerous events, concerts and exhibitions are organized there.
''
Obwarzanki krakowskie'', or twisted ring-shaped breads, are undoubtedly a symbol of Kraków. On the Square there is a ''obwarzanki'' seller every few steps. Traditional ''obwarzanki'' are sprinkled with poppy-seeds. Today, sellers offer a whole variety of them; apart from poppy-seed, there are also sesame seed, rock salt and even pizza sprinkles. One can eat them while strolling or in a horse-drawn carriage while cruising around and glancing at yet another symbol of the old city, namely Kraków pigeons. One can also come across various buskers and mimes.
Numerous legends purport to explain the presence of numerous pigeons on the Main Square. According to one legend,
Henry IV Probus, who tried to take over the
Senioral Province during the period of regional disintegration of Poland, attempted to go to Rome with financial offerings in order to gain papal approval for his coronation. However, a certain enchantress turned his knights into pigeons. They pecked out some pebbles from the walls of St. Mary's Church, which then turned into gold. With these riches the prince set off to
Vatican
Vatican may refer to:
Geography
* Vatican City, an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy
* Vatican Hill, in Rome, namesake of Vatican City
* Ager Vaticanus, an alluvial plain in Rome
* Vatican, an unincorporated community in the ...
, but while on his way he lost everything and never managed to reach his destination. He returned to Kraków. None of his knights ever regained a human form.
Architectural monuments
The Old Town district of Kraków is home to about six thousand historic sites and more than two million works of art.
[Jeffrey Zuehlke, ] Its rich variety of historic architecture includes
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
,
Baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
and
Gothic buildings. Kraków's palaces, churches, theatres and mansions display great variety of color, architectural details,
stained glass
Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...
,
painting
Painting is a Visual arts, visual art, which is characterized by the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called "matrix" or "Support (art), support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with ...
s,
sculpture
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...
s, and furnishings.
Museums and theatres
Many renowned points of interest in the Old Town, drawing a constant stream of visitors, include galleries as well as departments of the
National Museum in Kraków such as the
Sukiennice Museum, the Jan Matejko Manor,
Stanisław Wyspiański
Stanisław Mateusz Ignacy Wyspiański (; 15 January 1869 – 28 November 1907) was a Polish playwright, painter, poet, and interior and furniture designer. A patriotic writer, he created symbolic national dramas accordant with the artisti ...
Museum at 11 Szczepanska,
Czartoryski Museum with Arsenal at 19 Św. Jana Street, as well as the
Historical Museum of Kraków (''Rynek Główny 35'') with its departments: the
Barbican, the House under the Cross housing History of Theatre museum, Hippolitow House,
Town Hall Tower, Archdiocesan Museum and Archeological Museum. There are also: the Pharmacy Museum, Collegium Modicum at
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University (, UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by Casimir III the Great, King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and one of the List of oldest universities in con ...
, the Old Theatre Museum and the renowned
Collegium Maius Museum of the Jagiellonian University, including the Palace of Bishop Erazm Ciołek (on Kanoniczna). Two major theatres are also located there: the Old Theatre, and the most famous
Juliusz Słowacki Theatre.
Churches
The extended list of Catholic churches in the Old Town include:
Church of St. Andrew, Church of St. Ann, Church of St. Barbara, Church and Monastery of Franciscans, Church of St. Giles, St. John's The Baptist and St. John's The Evangelist Church, Reformatory Church of St. Casimir, Church of Our Lady of Snows, Church of St. Martin,
Church of St. Mary, Church of St. Marc,
St. Peter's and Paul's Church, Pijary Church, Church of St. Tomas, St. Trinity Church (Dominican Church) and
Church of St. Wojciech.
File:Kraków, St. Andrew.JPG, Church of St. Andrew
File:Krakov, Stare Miasto, kostel sv. Anny.JPG, Church of St. Anne
File:Kraków - Church of St. Francis 01.JPG, Church and monastery of Franciscans
File:Ναός Αγίου Μαρτίνου, Κρακοβία 4879.jpg, Church of St. Martin
File:Kraków - St. Mary Church 01.JPG, Kościół Mariacki
File:KrakowKosciolPrzemienienia.JPG, Pijary Church
File:Kościół św. Wojciecha; A-79, A-208-M; PL-MA, Kraków, ul. Rynek Główny 2.jpg, Church of St. Wojciech
File:0273 20100522 Krakow Kosciol sw Barbary.jpg, Church of St. Barbara
File:20180114 Kościół św. Floriana w Krakowie 0104 DxO.jpg, St. Florian Church
File:Church of St Casimir 02 (altar).jpg, St. Casimir the Prince
Sculptures
The Old Town district has a profusion of bronze statues and marble monuments. The most pronounced is the
Monument of Adam Mickiewicz situated at the Main Marketplace between the St. Mary's Church and the eastern side of
Sukiennice. It was unveiled for the centenary of
Adam Mickiewicz's birth. The poet is surrounded by four lower groups which symbolize: Homeland i.e. Poland (from the face of the monument), Science – an old man with a boy (from the side of Florianska Street), Poetry (from the side of the Church of St. Wojciech), and Patriotism and Valour (facing Sukiennice). The monument was designed by
Teodor Rygier, cast in Rome, and ceremonially unveiled on 16 June 1898.
[History of Adam Mickiewicz Monument](_blank)
at "Magiczny Kraków" City's official website, ACK Cyfronet AGH, 2009. It is a key part of the Market Square panorama and a place of meetings for many young people.
Other well-known monuments include the monument commemorating the poet
Józef Bohdan Zaleski
Józef Bohdan Zaleski (14 February 1802 – 31 March 1886) was a Polish Romanticism, Polish Romantic poet. A friend of Adam Mickiewicz, Zaleski founded the Ukrainian school, Ukrainian poetic school.
Life
Zaleski was a member of the secret patri ...
at Basztowa Street, showing harpist with a guide boy, made in 1886 by Pius Welonski; the Monument of
Jagiello and
Jadwiga at
Planty Park, made by Tomas Oscar Sosnowski and raised in 1886 in celebration of the quincentenary of the Union between Poland and Lithuania; and the Monument of Lilia Weneda at Planty Park, erected to commemorate poet
Juliusz Słowacki showing a character from the poet's drama playing a harp, made by Alfred Daun in 1884. Across from
the Palace of Art stands the Monument of
Artur Grottger made by
Wacław Szymanowski in 1901. Monument of Piotr Skrzynecki is in front of the Vis-á-vis café on the Main Market Square. The monument of
Jozef Dietl on the All Saints’ Square was made by
Ksawery Dunikowski in 1938 and erected in honour of the first president of Kraków. The monument to
Aleksander Fredro
Aleksander Fredro (20 June 1793 – 15 July 1876) was a Polish poet, playwright and Polish authors, author active during Romanticism in Poland, Polish Romanticism in the Partitions of Poland, period of partitions by neighboring empires. His works ...
is featured in front of the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre, near the Planty Park. It was made by Professor
Cyprian Godebski in 1900.
Along Planty – near the
Collegium Novum – is
the monument to astronomer
Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus (19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543) was a Renaissance polymath who formulated a mathematical model, model of Celestial spheres#Renaissance, the universe that placed heliocentrism, the Sun rather than Earth at its cen ...
depicting him as an established scholar. It was made by Godebski in 1900. Grażyna Monument at Planty Park presents characters from Adam Mickiewicz's poem entitled "
Grażyna" (''Grażyna and Litawor''). It was made by Alfred Daun in 1884. Monument of Florian Straszewski also at Planty Park is an obelisk erected in honour of co-originator of the Park and made by Edward Stehlik in 1874. The bust of comedy writer
Michał Bałucki made by
Tadeusz Błotnicki in 1911 is located behind the
Juliusz Słowacki Theatre. The Soviet Soldiers’ Graveyard monument situated near the Barbican till 1997 was later moved to
Rakowicki Cemetery. Monument to Unknown Soldiers who fell during the Kraków's liberation in 1945 was made by Karol Muszkiet and Marcin Bukowski in 1945. Sculpture entitled "Polonia" near the Church of Franciscans presents the mother, holding a baby in her arms, with a weasel and two dogs. It was made by Genowefa Nowak in 1968. Monument of
Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński, a friend of
Stanisław Wyspiański
Stanisław Mateusz Ignacy Wyspiański (; 15 January 1869 – 28 November 1907) was a Polish playwright, painter, poet, and interior and furniture designer. A patriotic writer, he created symbolic national dramas accordant with the artisti ...
, stands near the exit from Poselska Street. It was made by Edward Krzak in 1980. The monument of Cardinal
Adam Stefan Sapieha stands in front of the Church of St. Franciscans. It was made from August Zamoyski's 1976 design.
Monument of Tadeusz Kościuszko sculptured by Leonardo Marconi and Antoni Popiel is featured at
Wawel
The Wawel Royal Castle (; ''Zamek Królewski na Wawelu'') and the Wawel Hill on which it sits constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in Poland. A fortified residency on the Vistula River in Kraków, it was established o ...
. It was cast in bronze in 1900 and erected around 1920 by the newly established Tadeusz Kościuszko Society to celebrate the return of Poland's independence. New sculpture "Eros Bendato" made by
Igor Mitoraj is situated on the
Main Market Square, near the
Town Hall Tower.
File:Adam-Mickiewicz-Monument-by-Rygier-Krakow.jpg, Adam Mickiewicz
File:Kraków - Pomnik Józefa Dietla 01.JPG, Józef Dietl
File:Igor Mitoraj Eros bendato 01.jpg, ''Eros Bendato''
File:Kraków - Pomnik Mikołaja Kopernika 02.JPG, Nicolaus Copernicus
File:Kosciuszko Monument in Krakow.jpg, Tadeusz Kościuszko
File:Michal Balucki.JPG, Michal Balucki
File:Planty-Grazyna-Mickiewicza.jpg, Grażyna
File:Kraków 158.jpg, Fredro
File:SkrzyneckiVisavis.JPG, Piotr Skrzynecki
Gathering places
Among the best-known places to visit in and around the Old Town is
Wierzynek restaurant at the
Main Market Square. Its name refers to townsman Mikołaj Wierzynek and a feast held by him in the 14th century. The artistic café, Jama Michalika, boasts over a hundred years of literary traditions. Here the
Zielony Balonik Cabaret has come into being and the Spirit of
Young Poland has arisen. At the Main Market Square, there is also the
Piwnica pod Baranami
The Piwnica pod Baranami () is a Polish literary cabaret located in Kraków, Poland. For over thirty years, in the People's Republic of Poland, Piwnica pod Baranami served as the most renowned political cabaret in the country, until the end of (an ...
cabaret, created by renowned local artists, and a students’ club Pod Jaszczurami. The club is a legend in academic cultural circles. It is a popular place of meetings for the academic environment of Kraków where visitors are always welcome.
Moreover, the Square in the city centre is a place where many famous people and many important events were and are commemorated. There are plaques dedicated to the oath of Tadeusz Kościuszko in 1794, to Prussian Homage in 1525, and to supporting the renovation of
Main Market Square from 1964.
[Krakow-Poland.com]
Kraków Old Town District.
See also
*
List of World Heritage Sites in Poland
The UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural heritage, cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, establish ...
*
Culture of Kraków
*
Warsaw Old Town
*
Wrocław Old Town
References
External links
Satellite photograph of the Old Town from Google MapsKraków Old Townfro
Krakow-Poland.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stare Miasto
Neighbourhoods of Kraków
Tourist attractions in Kraków
World Heritage Sites in Poland
Kraków
, officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...