Historic Centre of Kraków (Europe)
Historic Centre of Kraków (Poland)
Founded in 1257, Kraków is one of the most beautiful cities in Poland. Likewise, it is one of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe. In particular, this is due to the Kraków Old Town , or the city’s Historic Centre. For instance, the Old Town of Kraków features the largest medieval town square in Europe. Like many cities in Europe, the Old Town is the main tourist district. Certainly, it features numerous restaurants, shops, cafés and hotels for your stay in Kraków.
Speaking of staying, I had the privilege of spending five wonderful nights in the Kraków Old Town in November 2019. The Historic Centre of Kraków (Old Town) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, Kraków is a great place to base yourself to visit several other World Heritage Sites in the surrounding area.
READ: 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to Visit While in Kraków
Table of Contents
Overview of Kraków Old Town
Kraków, Poland is full of historical and cultural significance. Furthermore, its Historic Centre is beautifully preserved. This is due to its buildings being spared most of the damage from World War II. This high level of preservation contributed to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Furthermore, it was placed on the World Heritage List in 1978. As a result, it is one of the original 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites ever inscribed due to its outstanding universal value.
Today, Kraków is the second largest city in Poland. Until 1596, it was the location of the nation’s capital. Subsequently, the capital was moved to the largest city in the country, Warsaw.
View the official UNESCO World Heritage listing for the “Historic Centre of Kraków“
Things to See in Kraków Old Town
Located at the foot of the Wawel Royal Castle, Kraków is a medieval walled city. In addition, it is historically a merchant’s city. This is evident in its famous main market square. The main square in the Old Town is the largest you will find in Europe. Moreover, there are many other notable buildings and structures with historical significance, such as:
- Main Market Square
- Kraków Cloth Hall
- St. Mary’s Basilica
- Town Hall Tower
- Adam Mickiewicz Monument
- Wawel Cathedral
- Wawel Royal Castle
- Kazimierz
Main Market Square
Dating back to the 13th century, the Rynek Główny (or Main Square) in Kraków is the largest in Europe. Churches and historic townhouses line the perimeter of the Old Town Main Square.. Furthermore, the central and obvious feature of the Main Square is the Cloth Hall.
Kraków Cloth Hall
Dating back to the Renaissance, the Kraków Cloth Hall is one of the city’s most recognizable buildings. In medieval times, it was a major centre for trade and bartering. Today, the Cloth Hall is full of shopping stalls selling hand-made goods and other souvenirs. In addition, the upper floor houses a branch of the National Museum.
St. Mary’s Basilica
This Brick Gothic church is located next to the main square in Kraków’s Old Town. Constructed in the 14th century, St. Mary’s Basilica served as a model for many other churches that were built by Polish immigrants in other countries.
TRAVEL TIP: Listen for the trumpet signal (heynal) played from the tallest of St. Mary’s two towers at the start of every hour. The trumpeter will pause half-way through the anthem. This is to commemorate another trumpeter from the 13th century who took an arrow to the throat while sounding the alarm before an attack on the city.
Town Hall Tower
The Town Hall Tower is another recognizable feature of the main square. Built in the late 14th century, the Town Hall Tower is the only remaining part of the Old Kraków Town Hall. The basement actually used to be a city prison — complete with a Medieval torture chamber.
As the result of a massive storm in 1703, the tower is actually leaning 55 centimeters.
Adam Mickiewicz Monument
Found on the southeast side of the Main Square, the Adam Mickiewicz Monument immortalizes the greatest Polish Romantic poet of the 19th century. In addition to poetry and drama, Adam Mickiewicz was also heavily involved in political activism. In 1890 (35 years after his death), his remains were relocated from France to Poland. Today, visitors can find his tomb inside Kraków’s Wawel Cathedral.
Wawel Cathedral
Located on Wawel Hill, the Wawel Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church. In addition, it is a cathedral of the Archdiocese of Kraków. Built in the 11th century, this national sanctuary has served as the main site of coronation (and burial, since the 14th century) for Polish Monarchs. In addition, many notable people from Poland are interred at Wawel Cathedral, such as various saints and political figures.
Furthermore, Wawel Cathedral is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site — the Historic Centre of Kraków.
Wawel Royal Castle
Representing several different European architectural styles, this royal castle is one of the largest in Poland. The current castle, which is a symbol of Polish statehood, was built in the 13th and 14th centuries. However, some of the other stone buildings on Wawel Hill actually date back as far as 970 AD. Moreover, the Wawel Royal Castle served as a home for the kings of Poland for many centuries. This changed in 1930, when the castle was converted into one of Poland’s finest art museums.
In addition, both the Wawel Royal Castle and Wawel Hill are Poland’s most significant historical and cultural site. Together with the Historic Centre of Kraków, Wawel Castle was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 because of its cultural value.
Kazimierz
Kazimierz is another component that is part of the “Historic Centre of Kraków” World Heritage listing. Technically outside of the Old Town, Kazimierz is a neighborhood and historical district in Kraków. In fact, it used to be its own independent city. For many years, Kazimierz was a melting pot of Polish and Jewish cultures. Unfortunately, many of its Jewish residents were forcibly moved and relocated to the Kraków Ghetto during World War II.
Today, Kazimierz is seeing somewhat of a resurgence in its Jewish population, identity and culture. Notable sites in Kazimierz include the Old Synagogue, the Remah Synagogue and the Old Jewish Cemetery (Remah Cemetery).
Where to Eat in Kraków Old Town
Pierogarnia Krakowiacy: https://www.facebook.com/PierogarniaKrakowiacy/
Krowarzywa Vegan Burgers: https://krowarzywa.pl/en/
Where to Stay in Kraków Old Town
“Globtroter” Guest House: https://pl.globtroter-krakow.com/
Use Booking.com to book your stay at “Globtroter” Guest House in Kraków!
Have you been to Kraków? Have you been to Poland? Let me know in the comments below!
