Kraków is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and over the centuries, many important architects and artists have come here from all over to make it that way. Luckily, this city was spared from major destruction from both World Wars. Because of this, it preserves the largest number of historical buildings and monuments in Poland – many say the number is in excess of 6,000 buildings! Sometimes called “little Rome”, it has 100 churches in the city center alone and 40 more just outside the city proper.
When looking at how far back Krakow dates, there isn’t a specific date mention in its conception however we know it was sometime during the 10th century. Then, in 1038, Poland officially made it it’s capital until the late 16thcentury. From there, it was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. One of the reasons I loved Krakow so much was because most places of interest can be found in a pretty tight historic center so its easily seen by foot. With that being said, let’s get moving!
1) Rynek Główny (Main Market Square) is the largest medieval square in Europe. It was first established in 1257 and from the 1400s on has been a major shopping center of the city. Cafes surround the square but there are wonderful shops, antique dealers, restaurants, and bars as well. There are also many historic sights and museums including Cloth Hall, City Hall Tower, Rynek Underground and the Church of St. Mary. Fun but earie fact: the Old Town Hall used to be a torturę chamber located exactly where you see the clock presently.
One thing I loved about Main Square was the local bread product, obwarzanek krakowski. It is a traditional, baked pastry product shaped like a ring and they are so popular that they are sold on every other street corner in Main Market Square and have become an unofficial symbol of the city. I couldn’t seem to get enough!
2) Cloth Hall is a historic building right in the center of the Main Market Square. By the start of the 1300s, Kraków was already a bustling, major trade hub in Eastern Europe. It was around that time that planners had the idea of raising a permanent covering over the two main lines of stalls on the plaza to protect merchants from the elements – this was incredibly innovative at the time! Today, Cloth Hall still bustles with the countless vendors but instead of selling primarily salt from the 1300s, that is now replaced with vendors selling mostly souvenirs. Still, it is fun going inside and imagining the same activity and energy from centuries past in the same spot!
3) Rynek Underground Museum is an interesting museum located under the Main Market Square that combines intereactive exhibits with more traditional displays – and everything is available with an English explanation so it’s easy to follow along. I found the artifacts from a 10th century cemetery especially fascinating. Scientists have learned so much about what life was like back then just from studying these artifacts – amazing!
4) St Mary’s Basilica (Church of St. Mary’s) is also located in Main Market Square. Construction began in 1355 but work continued through the 15thand 16th centuries. I found it really unique that a trumpeter plays every hour, on the hour from the intricate Hejnal Tower. You may climb to the trumpeter tower but note that it is closed on Mondays. Do go inside the church as there is so much detail it is easy to overlook the gorgeous objects like the chandeliers and paintings – they are exquisite!
5) Wawel Castle - The Royal Castle, with its arcaded courtyard, was built from 1504 to 1535. It is perched high upon a hill, appropriately called Wawel Hill. The hill is surrounded by fortifications built from the 14th century to the mid-19thcentury. The Castle now encompasses several permanent exhibitions including the State Rooms, Royal Private Apartments and Crown Treasury and Armory. One ticket grants you admission to these rooms.
Wawel Castle along with the Wawel Cathedral, were once the hub of cultural and political activity in Poland. The two go hand in hand and are a gorgeous assortment of predominantly Romanesque, Renaissance and Gothic architecture dating from around the 14th century onwards.
6) Wawel Cathedral lies right next to the Royal Castle on Wawel Hill. This is where 32 kings of Poland were crowned and entombed. Because of this, it is regarded by the Polish people as a spiritual shrine. It is also comprised of 18 chapels, all unique but incredibly detailed. It is an excellent example of Gothic architecture with rich decorations and gold plated figures. The gold plated dome above one of the chapels alone is 90 pounds of pure gold. Many tapestries inside are from the 1500s and is one of the biggest collections in Europe. But, the most interesting thing to me is the legend about the cathedral. Apparently, the massive bones chained outside are that of Wawel’s fearsome dragon. They haven’t been inspected in centuries due to their magical properties and have been credited for protecting the city from destruction particularly during WWII when almost every other major city in Poland was devastated.
7) Saints Peter and Paul Church is one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Poland and the first Baroque church in Krakow. The detail inside is exquisite. It was completed in just 20 years at the start of the 17th century. Interestingly enough, this Mannerist and Baroque church was the work of Italians, both inside and out and you can see the master Italian craftmanship in this beautiful church.
8) Kazimierz is one of the key historical districts in Kraków and with a very multicultural past. Over seven synagogues are found here but the most famous is the old synagogue built at the end of the 15th century, now a museum. It is also known for its night life with numerous bars and clubs. I found it especially interesting that cosmetics legend Helena Rubenstein was born here and you can see her house (the green one below) in which she was born and raised. There is a lovely and important monument to a man named Jan Karski in this area too. He was a member of the Polish Resistance and was crucial in spreading the news about the Holocaust tragedy to governments like the United States and other allied countries. He is considered a great Polish hero for his work.
9) Planty Park is the longest city park in Europe. It replaced a former moat as this was once the site of the city’s 13th century defensive fortifications. The moats were filled, the walls raised and the towers demolished. to create this park. The Austrian occupation in the first half of the 19th century replaced them with this lovely stroll way of greenery encircling the center of Old Town. Known as the “lungs of the city”, the Planty is one of Kraków's most unique and charming features: almost two miles of public parks and gardens filled with trees, flowers, benches and historic monuments. It’s a perfect way of taking a breather from visiting the cathedral, churches, and palaces without even leaving the heart of the city.
10) Ghetto Heroes Square is in the center of the old Krakow Ghetto. The Ghetto Memorial or “Lonely Chairs” is a somber remembrance of the 65,000 Jewish citizens who did not return to Krakow after WWII. These 65 iron and bronze chairs symbolize the tragedy of the Polish Jews. These inhabitants of Krakow were imprisoned in the Krakow Ghetto during the Second World War and the German occupation of Poland. And then afterwards losing their lives to the Germans on the premises of the ghetto and in several German death camps. It is also a place for candles and reflection for locals and tourists alike.
Bonus places to visit just outside of Krakow:
11) Wieliczka Salt Mine began as an active mine in 1278 and became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Back in the day, rock salt was a huge staple in building not only the wealth of the city but even helped put Krakow on the map as a major trading hub for Europe. Now it is open to the public as a historic site where you can actually see how it operated way back when. But I don’t want to spoil all of it as I’m going to be writing more about it in my next blog! But if you have the time to see it, make sure you do.
Our time in Krakow was amazing and so informative. I could not believe the beauty of this medieval city and how well preserved the buildings were and how it was able to remain almost unaffected by the wars. This was a fasinating city to visit and I would recommend to everyone. One last place I have to mention outside of Krakow is Auschwitz Birkenau. Please visit my blog post for details on this difficult but important visit.
