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Michal Leszczynski | profile | all galleries >> Lesser Poland Tour/Malopolska Tour >> Cracow Old Town tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Cracow Old Town

Krakow Old Town is the historic central district of Krakow, Poland. It is one of the most famous old districts in Poland today and was the center of Poland's political life from 1038 until King Sigismund III Vasa relocated his court to Warsaw in 1596. The entire medieval old town is among the first sites chosen for the UNESCO's World Heritage List, inscribed as Cracow's Historic Centre.

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 Krakow was surrounded by a 1.9 mile (3 km) 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 of Stare Miasto – the 13th-century merchants' town – was drawn up in 1257 after the destruction of the city during the Tatar invasions of 1241 followed by raids of 1259 and repelled in 1287. The district features the centrally located Rynek Główny, or Main Square, the largest medieval town square of any European city. There is a number of historic landmarks in its vicinity, such as St. Mary's Basilica, Church of St. Wojciech (St. Adalbert's), Church of St. Barbara, as well as other national treasures. At the center of the plaza, surrounded by kamienice (row houses) and noble residences, stands the Renaissance cloth hall Sukiennice (currently housing gift shops, restaurants and merchant stalls) with the National Gallery of Art upstairs. It is flanked by the Town Hall Tower.

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 suburb of Kleparz; passes the Barbican of Kraków (Barbakan) built in 1499, and enters Stare Miasto through the Florian Gate. It leads down Florianska Street through the Main Square, and up Grodzka to Wawel, the former seat of Polish royalty overlooking the Vistula river.

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 known as Planty Park.
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
View on St. Marys Basilicas Tower
View on St. Marys Basilicas Tower
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Krakow Old Town
Krakow Old Town
Krakow Old Town
Krakow Old Town
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Juliusz Slowacki Theatre
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Florianska Gate Tower
Florianska Gate Tower
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Florianska Gate Tower
Florianska Gate Tower
Entrance of Florianska Gate Tower
Entrance of Florianska Gate Tower
Florianska Gate Tower
Florianska Gate Tower
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Details of Architecture
Details of Architecture
Details of Architecture
Details of Architecture
Details of Architecture
Details of Architecture
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Details of Architecture
Details of Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Details of architecture
Details of architecture
Doors
Doors
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Entrance
Entrance
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Entrance
Entrance
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Entrance
Entrance
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Jan Matejko
Jan Matejko
Doors
Doors
House of Jan Matejko - Information plate
House of Jan Matejko - Information plate
Entrance
Entrance
Doors
Doors
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Entrance
Entrance
Details
Details
Entrance
Entrance
Details of architecture
Details of architecture
Architecture -  Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Museum of Pharmacy
Museum of Pharmacy
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Architecture - Florianska Street
Entrance
Entrance
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
St. Mary's Basilica
St. Mary's Basilica
Details of Architecture
Details of Architecture
Details of Architecture
Details of Architecture
Horse Drawn Carriage at Main Square
Horse Drawn Carriage at Main Square
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
St. Mary Basilica's Tower
St. Mary Basilica's Tower
Detail of Architecture
Detail of Architecture
St. Mary Basilica's Tower
St. Mary Basilica's Tower
Window
Window
Details of Architecture
Details of Architecture
Doors
Doors
St. Mary Basilica' Towers
St. Mary Basilica' Towers
Portrait
Portrait
Details of Architecture
Details of Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Entrance
Entrance
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Elements of architecture
Elements of architecture
St. Mary's Basilica
St. Mary's Basilica
Monument of Adam Mickiewicz and Sukiennice in background
Monument of Adam Mickiewicz and Sukiennice in background
Elements of architecture
Elements of architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Entrance
Entrance
Architecture
Architecture
Fountain
Fountain
Portrait of Nobleman
Portrait of Nobleman
Cracow - Main Square
Cracow - Main Square
Cracow - Main Square
Cracow - Main Square
Cracow Main Sqaure
Cracow Main Sqaure
St. Mary Basilica's Towers
St. Mary Basilica's Towers
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Architecture
Architecture
Sukiennice - Architecture
Sukiennice - Architecture
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Architecture
Architecture
City Hall Tower
City Hall Tower
Entrance - Decoration
Entrance - Decoration
Portrait
Portrait
Entrance
Entrance
Cracow - Main Square
Cracow - Main Square
Cracow - Main Square
Cracow - Main Square
Cracow - Main Sqaure
Cracow - Main Sqaure
Entrance
Entrance
Ristorante Imperiale Reale
Ristorante Imperiale Reale
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
La Fontaine Restaurant
La Fontaine Restaurant
Old Town
Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Entrance
Entrance
Architecture
Architecture
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Good Morning
Good Morning
Architecture
Architecture
Flowers
Flowers
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Elements of architecture
Elements of architecture
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Entrance
Entrance
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Horse Drawn Carriage
Horse Drawn Carriage
Monument of Adam Mickiewicz
Monument of Adam Mickiewicz
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Entrance
Entrance
Entrance
Entrance
Entrance
Entrance
Walk
Walk
Elements of architecture
Elements of architecture
Wagon
Wagon
Portrait
Portrait
Bar No 7 Cracow - Old Town
Bar No 7 Cracow - Old Town
Charlotte dessert Bar No 7
Charlotte dessert Bar No 7
Entrance
Entrance
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Horse Drawn Carriage - Cracow Old Town
Horse Drawn Carriage - Cracow Old Town
Horse Drawn Carriage
Horse Drawn Carriage
Horse Drawn Carriage
Horse Drawn Carriage
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Interior - Cracow Old Town
Interior - Cracow Old Town
Interior - Cracow Old Town
Interior - Cracow Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Cracow Old Town
Portrait
Portrait
Portrait
Portrait
Architecture
Architecture
Holy Trinity Basilique
Holy Trinity Basilique
Trams
Trams
Cracow
Cracow
Park
Park
Cracow
Cracow
Park
Park
Franciszkanska
Franciszkanska
Franciscan Abbey
Franciscan Abbey
Franciscan Abbey
Franciscan Abbey
Eco taxi
Eco taxi
Franciszkanska 3
Franciszkanska 3
Street candid
Street candid
Bracka Street
Bracka Street
Architecture - All Saints Square
Architecture - All Saints Square
All Saints Square
All Saints Square
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
All Saints Square - Statue of Jozef Ditel
All Saints Square - Statue of Jozef Ditel
Franciscan Abbey
Franciscan Abbey
Dominician Square
Dominician Square
Old Town - Grodzka Street
Old Town - Grodzka Street
Portrait
Portrait
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Portraits
Portraits
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Architecture
Architecture
Da Pietro Restaurant
Da Pietro Restaurant
Cafe
Cafe
Architecture
Architecture
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Wentzl Restaurant
Wentzl Restaurant
Architecture
Architecture
City Hall Tower
City Hall Tower
Horse Drawn Carriage
Horse Drawn Carriage
Ladies with hats
Ladies with hats
Portraits
Portraits
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
View on St. Mary's Basilique from Sukiennice
View on St. Mary's Basilique from Sukiennice
Architecture of Sukiennice
Architecture of Sukiennice
Arcades - Sukiennice
Arcades - Sukiennice
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
St. Mary's Basilica
St. Mary's Basilica
Architecture - Sukiennice
Architecture - Sukiennice
Arcades - Sukiennice
Arcades - Sukiennice
Arcades - Sukiennice
Arcades - Sukiennice
Cracow  - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Photographers
Photographers
Town Hall Tower
Town Hall Tower
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
City Hall Tower
City Hall Tower
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Entrance into City Hall Tower
Entrance into City Hall Tower
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Igor Mitoraj's sculpture - Eros Bound bronze
Igor Mitoraj's sculpture - Eros Bound bronze
Architecture
Architecture
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
St. Mary's Basilica
St. Mary's Basilica
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Portrait
Portrait
Sukiennice
Sukiennice
Arcades - Sukiennice
Arcades - Sukiennice
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Heynalist on St. Mary's Tower
Heynalist on St. Mary's Tower
Architecture
Architecture
Jazz Club & Restaurant
Jazz Club & Restaurant
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Panamera on the streets of Old Town
Panamera on the streets of Old Town
Architecture of  Old Town
Architecture of Old Town
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Architecture
Architecture
Streets of Old Town
Streets of Old Town
Portrait
Portrait
House of Jan Matejko
House of Jan Matejko
Florianska Street
Florianska Street
Florianska Tower
Florianska Tower
Musicians
Musicians
Barbican
Barbican
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Barbican
Barbican
Cracow - Old Town
Cracow - Old Town
Streets of Cracow
Streets of Cracow
Basztowa Street
Basztowa Street
Basztowa Street
Basztowa Street
Square of Jan Matejko
Square of Jan Matejko
Architecture
Architecture
Square of Jan Matejko
Square of Jan Matejko
Monument of Battle under Grunwald
Monument of Battle under Grunwald
Lying Knight
Lying Knight
Lying Knight
Lying Knight
Monument of Battle under Grunwald
Monument of Battle under Grunwald
Architecture
Architecture
Monument of Battle under Grunwald
Monument of Battle under Grunwald
Monument of Battle under Grunwald
Monument of Battle under Grunwald
Square of Jan Matejko
Square of Jan Matejko
Square of Jan Matejko
Square of Jan Matejko
Monument of Battle under Grunwald
Monument of Battle under Grunwald
Square of Jan Matejko
Square of Jan Matejko
Square of Jan Matejko
Square of Jan Matejko
Square of Jan Matejko
Square of Jan Matejko
The Royal Route
The Royal Route