Historic places in Kraków

Historic places in Kraków

1. SeeKazimierz

   Chewra Thilim Synagogue

   HEVRE Bar

   Historically a prayer house, today an exhibition space and the location of HEVRE Bar. Features rare, well-preserved polychrome.

2. SeeOld Town

   Church Of Our Lady Of Snows

   Constructed in 1632 founded by Anna Lubomirska as a vote to commemorate the victorious battle in 1621 in Chocim against the Osmans. It was destroyed during the Swedish invasion in 1655 and rebuilt in 1671. The main altar has the painting of the "Our Lady of Snows", the gift of Pope Urban VIII. Next to the church stands a cloister with some fragments of the defensive medieval architecture, like a brick tower from the 13th century.

3. SeeOld Town

   Collegium Maius

   This is the oldest part of the university, built 1364-1400 in Gothic style. It has a beautiful courtyard and chambers such as the Assembly Hall and stuba communis - the professors' common room. Niclaus Copernicus, Jan III Sobieski, and John Paul II all studied here. In its museum are the scientific instruments of Copernicus, the first globe to depict America, and many other medieval artefacts. Oxygen was first liquified in a stable condition here in 1883.

4. SeeOld Town

   Dominican Monastery

   The Dominicans came in 1222 to Kraków. After the Tatars destroyed this monastery, they rebuilt it. Duke Leszek, the Black of Kraków, and Bishop Iwo Odrowaz were buried inside the church in the 13th century. Also the great Italian Humanist Fillipo Callimachus was buried there in the 15th century. His grave was made by Veit Stoss and Peter Vischer. There are 13 chapels inside the church, the Sobieski Chapel with graves of the family of king Jan III Sobieski, the golden Myszkowski Chapel full of pretty baroque and gold, the manierist Dominican Chapel by Santi Gucci are the most beautiful. The Renaissance cross ways are full of epitaphs and baroque paintings by Tomasz Dolabella. A beautiful Romanique Crypta is under the cross ways.

5. SeeSouth

   Fort Benedict

   Fort Benedykta

   Gun turret built between 1853 and 1856. Unique in terms of European fortress architecture. The building is not accessible and the surrounding area is fenced off.

6. SeeOld Town

   Franciscans

   The Franciscans came in 1237 to Kraków. Their first monastery was destroyed by the Tatars in 1241 and 1259. In 1269, the saint Salomea was buried inside the St. Francis Church. In 1462, 1655 and 1850 parts of the monastery were destroyed by fire. Inside you can find Gothic architecture and some prominent works of Polish Art Nouveau, i.e. the famous stained-glass "Good Father the Creator" by Stanisław Wyspiański. The cross ways are well worth seeing with their Gothic frescoes. It has been a basilica since 1920.

7. SeeOld Town

   Holy Trinity Church

   This Dominican church, was built in 1222 in Romanesque style (the refectory still is). It was rebuilt as a three-aisled basilica in the second half of 14th century and the 15th century. It is filled with a countless number of tombs and the set of burial chapels of the 16th and 17th centuries was second only to the Wawel Cathedral necropolis. The great fire of 1850 destroyed much of the church. There is an amazing late 14th-century stone portal richly ornamented with carved floral motifs located here.

8. EatKazimierz

   Kapłony i Szczeżuje

   A faithful recreation of a Jewish Polish restaurant from the 1930s. The wide-ranging menu features many historical dishes that have long since fallen out of fashion, incorporating unusual but tasty ingredients like duck tongue, kidneys and brain.

   Daily 12:00-22:00

9. DoOld Town

   Kino pod Baranami

   Cinema in a beautiful palace with three screens. Similar to ARS with their selection of films. They have special screenings of Polish films with subtitles in English.

10. EatKazimierz

    Klezmer-Hois

    Jewish cuisine, sometimes live music in the evenings. Located in the historic Great Mikveh building.

11. SeeEast

    Krakow Historical Museum - The History of Nowa Huta Quarter

    Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa - Dzieje Nowej Huty

    Shows temporary exhibitions about the history of Nowa Huta before and after 1949.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00

12. SeeOld Town

    Krzysztofory Palace

    Pałac Krzysztofory

    The main building. Usual historical museum stuff: armour, swords, etc. Every year after Christmas there is an exhibition concerning local tradition: Krakow szopka (characteristic nativity scene where historical buildings of Kraków are used as backdrop for the Nativity of Jesus.)

13. EatOld Town

    Miód i Wino

    Restaurant with amazing cod-medieval interiors. Food is good (try the duck); the service is sometimes altogether off but usually altogether on.

    Daily 11:00-23:00

14. SeeKazimierz

    Museum of City Engineering

    Muzeum Inżynierii Miejskiej

    It is in old tram sheds and on the grounds of a former gasworks and power plant. It has exhibitions on the history of Polish automotive, public transportation, radio and television, household and office appliances industries. The museum is well prepared for younger visitors.

    Mondays closed·5 - 8 zł, Tuesdays free

15. SeeOld Town

    Palace of the Bishops of Krakow

    Pałac Biskupow Krakowskich

    Renaissance palace with a beautiful yard. It is world famous as the home of Pope John Paul II. Starting in 1963, he lived there as the bishop/cardinal of Kraków. After he became pope, he always stayed at there while in Kraków. His small talks from the window with Krakowians are famous. Often one can find a candle in the window and many candles and flowers under it.

16. SeeWest

    Piłsudski Mound

    Kopiec Piłsudskiego

    Józef Piłsudski (1867-1935) was the military leader who used the 1918 post-war power vacuum to re-establish Poland after 123 years of partition. The Germans and Austrians departed peacefully but it took wars with Russia to reclaim territory in the east. He was the de facto strongman ruler of Poland until his death. This artificial mound was begun in 1934 to celebrate Polish independence but was re-dedicated when Piłsudski died, incorporating soil from every WW1 battlefield where Polish soldiers fought. He himself is interred in Wawel. Later regimes hoped to write him out of history and his mound, like Kościuszko's, was damaged by the 1997/98 floods but restored in 2002.

    24 hours·Free

17. SeeEast

    Polish Aviation Museum

    Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego

    A museum consisting of a new pavilion (good contemporary architecture) and few hangars filled with over two hundred historic gliders, aircraft, helicopters and more. Among them is a collection of 22 extremely rare antique planes that once belonged to Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring of World War II infamy. The museum stands on the grounds of the Rakowice-Czyżyny airfield, one of the oldest military airfields in Europe.

    Tue-Sun 09:00—17:00, Mon closed·Tuesdays free

18. SeeOld Town

    Reformatory Church of St. Casimir

    Built in 1666, together with the monastery in baroque style. In the crypta are graves of the brothers with mummified bodies, due to the special microclimate.

19. SeeOld Town

    Royal Castle

    Wawel Castle

    The earliest parts of the present castle are medieval but most of it was built from the 16th C in Renaissance style, with baroque additions, surrounding an Italianate courtyard. It suffered when the centre of power moved to Warsaw, the country was partitioned, and there was a harrowing series of military occupations and wars. It was lavishly restored in the 20th C. No combi ticket: State Rooms (49 zł), Royal Private Apartments (25 zł), Crown Treasury (43 zł), The Armoury (15 zł), "Lost Wawel" (decorative fragments from buildings that are gone) (15 zł), First Floor Galeries (5 zł), Royal Gardens (5 zł), Dragon's Den (9 zł) and Sandomierska Tower (5 zł). The audioguide is recommended.In November some exhibits benefit from the "Free November" programme, but they will sell out so you must book well in advance.

    April-Oct daily 09:30-17:00, Nov-Mar Tue-Sun 09:30-17:00

20. SeeOld Town

    St Mary's Basilica

    Bazylika Mariacka

    Built in Gothic Brick from the 14th C, with two unequal towers facing the main square. The hejnał is played from the towers every hour and on Polish Radio at noon, commemorating the trumpeter slain as he sounded the alarm. There's a soaring interior with a magnificent altar by Veit Stoss (1477-89), plus another with a stone crucifix by Stoss. The wall paintings are by Matejko, Wyspianski, and Mehoffer. Leaving aside Wawel cathedral this church and St Francis church are probably the two most impressive in Krakow.

    Mon-Sat 12:00-18:00, Sun 14:00-18:00, no visits during Mass·Adult 10 zł, conc 8 zł

21. SeeOld Town

    St. Joseph Church

    This church was built in 1694 at the place of the Tęczyński Palace in baroque style. It was damaged in the big fire of 1850 but the interior was saved.

22. SeeKazimierz

    St. Michael's Church

    Kościół Św. Michała Archanioła i Św. Stanisława Biskupa i Męczennika w Krakowie (Skałka)

    With the monastery of the Paulins, one of the oldest in Poland. The defensive position of the "Church on the Rock" (Skałka) brought settlement already in the 9th century. Bishop St. Stanislaw is said to be killed there by King Boleslaw II in 1079. The garden pond is traditionally believed to have served for pagan sacrifices. Many famous Poles like Jan Długosz, Stanisław Wyspiański, Adam Asnyk, Karol Szymanowski, Józef Ignacy Kraszewski, Jacek Malczewski, and Czesław Miłosz are buried there.

23. SeeOld Town

    Stefanus Square

    Plac Szczepański

    The name refers to the Gothic Stefanus Church that stood there until the 19th century. The secessionist Palace of Art and Old Theatre are there. It was renovated in faux secessionist style, which angered lots of citizens. The fountain plays music in summer evenings.

24. SeeOld Town

    Wawel Cathedral

    Known in full as Królewska Bazylika Archikatedralna śś. Stanisława i Wacława na Wawelu, or the "Royal Archcathedral Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslaus on Wawel Hill". On 2 Nov 1946 a talented young priest called Karol Wojtyla conducted his first mass here, the day after his ordination; he went on to become the city's bishop, Pope John Paul II, and a modern Saint. The building is Gothic, built from 14th C. Several crypts and chapels house the remains of Poland's monarchs, nobility, heroes and poets. The Sigismund Tower, ascended by rickety wooden steps, contains the huge Sigismund Bell. The Holy Cross chapel and the Queen Sophia chapel to the right and left of the main entrance (although they are at the entrance if you follow the standard walking tour you don't see them until near the end) are both of great interest, the Holy Cross chapel has 14th century frescoes and the red marble sarcophagus of King Casimir IV Jagiellon while the Queen Sophia chapel is also very lavishly decorated, however they are not the only gems even the casual tourist will find sights of great interest at every turn. Allow at least 1 hour for a visit. Don't forget the small John Paul II museum just across the yard.

    Mon-Sat 09:00-16:00, Sun 12:30-16:00·25 zł

25. DrinkOld Town

    Wedel Cafe

    A cafe with a beautiful medieval courtyard, showcasing the assortment of the E. Wedel chocolate factory (since 1851, but now part of Lotte Holdings), including the traditional praline-wafer torte (torcik wedlowski) still decorated by hand. Wonderful chocolate drinks and cakes.

    Sun-Thu 09:00-22:00, Fri Sat 09:00-00:00

26. Do Not mapped

    Krakow Film Festival

    One of the oldest film events dedicated to documentary, animated and short fiction films in Europe. In a week over 200 films are shown in around six cinemas (10 screens) around the city and in an open air one next to Wawel castle. May

27. Do Not mapped

    Wianki

    St. John's Night (Midsummer) celebration. An evening of concerts finished with a fireworks show taking place on Vistula river banks next to Wawel castle. A booze-up. June

28. SeeOld Town

    Bishop Erazm Ciołek Palace

    Pałac Biskupa Erazma Ciolka

    ul. Kanonicza 17

29. EatWest

    China Palace

    Chiński Pałac

    Good Chinese cuisine, filling portions.

    Daily 12:00-21:00

30. SeeOld Town

    Palace of Art

    Pałac Sztuki

    pl. Szczepański 4

    Mon-Fri 08:15-18.00, Sat Sun 10:00-18:00·10 zł adults, 5 zł reduced

31. SeeOld Town

    Palace of the Wielkopolskis

    Pałac Wielkopolskich

    on pl. Wszystkich Świętych is nowadays Town Council offices.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Kraków (CC BY-SA 4.0).