Poland | Historic Old Town Krakow

Old Town (Stare Miasto) Cracow (Krakowie)

Cracow's "Stare Miasto," or "Old Town" district dates back to its founding in the early 13th century, although there were fortified settlements along this section of the Vistula River that date back to the 9th century.

Cracow's entire medieval Stare Miasto district was surrounded by approximately 2 miles of defensive walls and ramparts, with eight major gates, and over 47 watchtowers. The defensive perimeter began during the early 13th century, and were completed over the next 300 years.

The fortification of Cracow was originally intended to repel invasions from the Tartar hordes who mounted incursions in 1241, 1259 and 1281. The annual Lajkonik procession marks the final Tartar invasion of 1281, when they were defeated by Krakow raftsmen.

Architecture of Krakow (Cracow)

The medieval architecture of Cracow's historical 'Old Town' district is an eclectic mixture of Baroque, Gothic, Empire, Neoclassical, Romanesque, and Russian Orthodox styles that reflect Poland's geographical distinction as a crossroads of eastern and wester European cultures.

The city's medieval Barbakan Gate is a circular fortification that was constructed between 1498 and 1499, paid for by King Jan Olbracht. Although the Barbakan Gate is a gothic structure, its circular design was based on Arab-style defensive architecture. The city's limestone perimeter walls were constructed during the late 13th century, under to order of king Waclaw II.

The city's main entrance was through the Florianska, or St. Florian Gate, and Florianska street became the Royal Route from Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) to Wawel castle. The Polish eagle on the facade of Florian Gate's 'Haberdasher's Tower' was created by artist Jan Matejko, and has became the symbol for the nation's first rulers. The Tower's Baroque roof was added in 1660.

Beginning in 1822 the city's defensive wall was removed, and its ramparts drained in order to create a perimeter garden that was referred to as the "plantation" or planty ring park and green belt.

Initially most of the residences within Cracow's city walls were constructed of wood, but during the late 13th century stone became the city's dominant building material.

One of Old Town's most significant landmarks is the imposing Sukiennice, or "Cloth Hall" which sits on Rynek Glowny (Main Market Square) in the center of the city. The Sukiennice was built in the 16th century, as a trading center for the city's merchants who sold everything from silk, leather, wax, to exotic spices from the east. Cloth Hall was fully renovated in 1870, and still houses merchants and vendors who sell local crafts and folk-art made of leather, wood, silver and amber.

Just to the north of Wawel castle is Kanonicza Street (below) which is one of the oldest and best preserved residential streets in Old Cracow, with many of its residences having been constructed during the middle ages.