 THE BARBICAN
It is a 15th-century defensive bastion. The outwork, at a distance of several dozen metres outside the city walls, was originally surrounded with a moat and was connected to the Floriahska Gate by a passageway Its mission was to obstruct the first attack of the enemy The Barbican has seven turrets and 130 loopholes. Its walls are more than 3 metres thick. It is the largest such structure in Poland and the best preserved in the entire Europe. |
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THE FLORIANSKA GATE
Dated to the turn of the 13th/14thc, along the neighbouring walls and three towers, the gate is part of the powerful fortification system which once surrounded Krakow with a 3-km long band. It was reinforced with 47 towers, eight gates and a moat. The Florianska Gate opened the Royal Route which royal and envoy processions took on their way to Wawel. In the 19*c, city walls were demolished and replaced by the Planty Park. |
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 THE SLOWACKI THEATRE
This eclectic building, modelled after the Paris Opera, was designed by Jan Zawiejski and built in 1893. The most outstanding Polish actors - Helena Modrzejewska, Aleksander Zelwerowicz and Ludwik Solski (the theatre director 1905-1913) - performed on its stage. It was the venue for world premieres of Kordian (1899), Forefathers' Night and The Wedding (1901). The stage is adorned with a fine curtain by Henryk Siemiradzki, who painted on it various allegorical and symbolic figures connected with theatrical art. The famous dressing room once used by Solski may also be visited at the theatre. |
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THE CHURCH OFTHE HOLY CROSS
It is one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic architecture in Poland. Especially noteworthy is its original palm vaulting supported on only one pillar. The walls of the chancel and of the aisle are covered with interesting 15th- and 16th-century paintings, renovated by Stanislaw Wyspianski. |
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THE PIARIST CHURCH
The 18th-century church has a rich Baroque interior, including the most impressive illusion painting on the vaulting in the main aisle, and fine paintings and stuccoes in side chapels. The high-altar contains a copy of Rafael's Lord's Transfiguration. Right of the altar is the urn with the heart of the Piarist Stanislaw Konarski. Adjoining the church is the Municipal Arsenal which houses part of the Czartoryski Museum collection. |
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THE CZARTORYSKI MUSEUM
Facing the Piarist Church is the main seat of the Czartoryski Museum, in which two master works of world painting may be seen - Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci and Landscape with the Good Samaritan by Rembrandt. On display are also works of the European painting, mementoes connected with Polish kings, hetmans and generals, and an exquisite collection of china, goldwork and arms. The museum was established in 1800 by Duchess Izabelle j Czartoryska. Despite the fact that it has been relocated several times and damages caused by war its collection is ranked among the most interesting ones in Poland. |
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ST. ANN'S CHURCH
The largest Baroque church in Krakow, dating from the turn of the 17th/18th c. was funded by the professors of the Jagiellonian University and designed by the Dutch architect Tilman van Gameren. He designed the church in such a way that the entire facade can be viewed from a narrow street. The collegiate church is the place of worship of St. John Cantius - in the side altar is a sarcophagus with the relics of the saint. The fine stucco decoration by the Italian Baltazar Fontana, is especially noteworthy. |
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THE COLLEGIUM MAIUS
Plus ratio quam vis (Reason over force) reads an inscription on the wall of the Jagiellonian Ceremonial Room of the Collegium Maius. The oldest seat of the Krakow University was founded by the Jagiellons in 1400, but over the centuries was remodelled several times. A small, quiet courtyard surrounded with 15th-century arcades is one of Krakow's most magical sites. Its arcaded passages and the Jagiellonian University Museum with its interesting library collection, the oldest Rector's insignia, astronomical instruments and the unique collection of ancient globes, are certainly worth a visit. |
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THE DOMINICAN CHURCH AND MONASTERY
The rich interior furnishing of this Gothic church burnt during a fire in the mid-l9th c. The current interior decor is in the neo-Gothic style. Interesting elements of the church include the Chapel of the Rosary (17th c.) and the Chapel of St. Hyacinth, the co-founder and the first prior of the monastery (14thc), and Veit Stoss's sepulchral plate (on the left from the high altar) of the outstanding humanist Filip Bounaccorsi (Kallimach). The passages of the Dominican Monastery adjoining the church are also open to visitors. |
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THE FRANCISCAN CHURCH AND MONASTERY
This Gothic church was founded by Boleslaus the Chaste in the mid-13th c. The Duke found his place of final rest here, along with his sister, Blessed Salomea. The church is particulary interesting because of Stanislaw Wyspianski's stained-glass windows in the chancel depicting St. Francis, Blessed Salomea and the four elements, a fine colourful polychormy in the chancel and the transept and, the real masterpiece - God the Father - a stained-glass window over the main entrance. The stations of the Via Dolorosa were painted by Jozef Mehoffer. |
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THE CHURCH OF ST PETER AND PAUL
The church was erected on the initiative of the Rev Piotr Skarga and funded by Sigismund III Waza for the Jesuits. It was designed by great architects, including Giovanni Trevano, and was modelled after the Roman church, the II Gesu. It was built at the turn of the 16th/17th c. In the crypt under the chancel Piotr Skarga is buried in a silver coffin. The church has a fine cupola on which a Foucault pendulum was hung. Its swinging proves that the Earth rotates. The church is guarded by the twelve apostles - copies of the original 17th-century sculptures. |
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ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH
The Romanesque church dates from the 12th c. and is one of the oldest buildings in Poland. Its thick walls (1.5 m) and narrow windows prove that it also had a defensive function. Its small interior is stunning with its splendid Baroque decor; its rococo boat-shaped pulpit is especially noteworthy The treasury of the convent of Sisters of St. Clara adjoining the church houses precious reliquaries from the 13th c., a unique mosaic with Our Lady dating from the turn of the 12th/13th c. and a set of Nativity figurines from the 14th c. among the oldest in Europe. |
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 The Main Market Square |
Kazimierz  |
Krakow Sightseeings