Visit Kraków

Not everyone knows that Cracow’s Main Market Square is the largest medieval urban centre in Europe. It was designed during the reign of Boleslaw Wstydliwy in 1257. It’s aim was to facilitate the trade both across the country and that with European countries, because as we know a lot of trade trails were crossing Cracow and other Polish cities. Now we can still see some remnants of the old-time pavement stalls which are located in Sukiennice. The ground floor is a trading centre for crafts and souvenirs and the upper floor is an abode of the Gallery of 19th Century Polish Painting.

We can enter The Market Place from the Jewish District (Kazimierz) which is the main centre of nightlife.

On the east side of Market Square there is St Mary’s Church with its famous and unusual high altar. It was carved by Wit Stwosz, the Nuremberg sculptor known as Veit Stoss. It is believed to be the greatest masterpiece of Gothic art in Poland. The interior of St Mary’s Church is astonishing. We can admire some high vaulted naves and breathtaking wall paintings.

Being on the Market Place is the main point of each trip which is adorned with a characteristic hejnal melody played every hour. It symbolises the destruction of the city during 13th century Tatar raids. It’s played from the higher tower and what is surprising to all foreign tourist it stops suddenly in the middle of playing.

On the Market Square there is also a small domed St Adalbert’s Church. It’s a romanesque buidling, which is additionally one of the oldest churches in Cracow. When you’re a little bit tired you can sit in one of many tiny restaurants, which are the highlights of evening trips. Market Place attracts a lot of tourist both day and night. We can try some delicious cracovian dishes and admire a relaxing atmosphere of this old city.

The most well known restaurant is called Wierzynek and Hawelka Tetmajerowska. There are also many others such as Wentzl, Redolfi and Pod Sloncem. We strongly recommend you especially one of them which is called Vis a Vis. It was a favourite place of Piotr Skrzynecki who was the creator of Piwnica pod Baranami.