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119-474: Interactive map. For more information, click on district number. The city of Kraków is divided into 18 administrative districts, each with a degree of autonomy within the municipal government. The Polish name for such a district is dzielnica . The oldest neighborhoods of Kraków were incorporated into the city before the late 18th century. They include the Old Town ( Stare Miasto ), once contained within

238-470: A coat of arms , a flag, a seal, and a banner. Responsibilities of Kraków's president include drafting and implementing resolutions, enacting city bylaws, managing the city budget, employing city administrators, and preparing against floods and natural disasters . The president fulfills his duties with the help of the City Council, city managers and city inspectors. In the 1990s, the city government

357-412: A 100 km (62 mi) radius. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596, and has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life. Cited as one of Europe 's most beautiful cities, its Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, one of the world's first sites granted the status. The city began as a hamlet on Wawel Hill and

476-640: A degree of autonomy to Galicia after its own defeat in the Austro-Prussian War . Kraków, being politically freer than the Polish cities under Prussian (later German) and Russian rule, became a Polish national symbol and a centre of culture and art, known frequently as the "Polish Athens" ( Polskie Ateny ). Many leading Polish artists of the period resided in Kraków, among them the seminal painter Jan Matejko , laid to rest at Rakowicki Cemetery , and

595-413: A degree of autonomy within its own municipal government. Prior to March 1991, the city had been divided into four quarters which still give a sense of identity to Kraków: the towns of Podgórze , Nowa Huta and Krowodrza , which were amalgamated into the city as it expanded; and the ancient town centre of Kraków itself. Royal Road, Krak%C3%B3w The Royal Road starts outside the northern flank of

714-416: A flood in the year 1813 all added up to the adverse development of the city with a high debt burden on public finances and many workshops and trading houses needing to close their activities. Following Napoleon's defeat, the 1815 Congress of Vienna restored the pre-war boundaries but also created the partially independent and neutral Free City of Kraków . In addition to the historic city of Kraków itself,

833-534: A leading centre of trade. Brick buildings were constructed, including the Royal Wawel Castle with St. Felix and Adaukt Rotunda, Romanesque churches such as St. Andrew's Church , a cathedral , and a basilica . The city was sacked and burned during the Mongol invasion of 1241. It was rebuilt practically identically, based on new location act and incorporated in 1257 by the high duke Bolesław V

952-513: A length of 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), forming a scenic walkway popular with Cracovians. Jordan Park, founded in 1889 by Henryk Jordan , was the first public park of its kind in Europe. Built on the banks of the Rudawa , the park was equipped with running and exercise tracks, playgrounds, a swimming pool, amphitheatre , pavilions, and a pond for boat rowing and water bicycles . It is located in

1071-422: A longer growing season . In addition, for older data there was less sun than the capital of the country, about 30 minutes daily per year, but both have small differences in relative humidity and the direction of the winds is northeast. The climate table below presents weather data with averages from 1991 to 2020, sunshine ranges from 1971 to 2000, and valid extremes from 1951 to the present day: Kraków provides

1190-695: A major Polish academic and cultural centre, with the establishment of new universities such as the AGH University of Science and Technology and the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts , as well as several new and essential vocational schools. The city became an important cultural centre for Polish Jews , including both Zionist and Bundist groups. Kraków was also an influential centre of Jewish spiritual life, with all its manifestations of religious observance—from Orthodox to Hasidic and Reform Judaism —flourishing side by side. Following

1309-433: A meritorious monument of the times. This period in postwar architecture was followed by the mass-construction of large Panel System apartment blocks, most of which were built outside the city centre and thus do not encroach upon the beauty of the old or new towns. Some examples of the new style (e.g., Hotel Cracovia) recently listed as heritage monuments were built during the latter half of the 20th century in Kraków. After

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1428-616: A mythical founder of Kraków. In the 13th century a Cistercian monastery was built in the easternmost village of Mogiła, called the Mogiła Abbey . Nowa Huta was built from the ground up in 1949 as a separate town near Kraków on terrain resumed by the Communist Government from former villages of Mogiła, Pleszów and Krzesławice. It was planned as a huge centre of heavy industry around the new Lenin Steelworks . The town

1547-426: A nature reserve on the slopes of the hill on which it stands. Bielany is also the site of Kraków's first municipal water supply plant, in use since 1901. Dębniki is Kraków's Administrative District No. VIII, split in 1990 from Podgórze . It contains the former villages of Bodzów, Dębniki, Kapelanka, Kobierzyn, Koło Tynieckie, Kostrze, Ludwinów, Podgórki Tynieckie, Pychowice, Sidzina, Skotniki, Tyniec and Zakrzówek,

1666-509: A notable commercial centre controlled first by Moravia (876–879), but captured by a Bohemian duke Boleslaus I in 955. The first acclaimed ruler of Poland, Mieszko I , took Kraków from the Bohemians and incorporated it into the holdings of the Piast dynasty towards the end of his reign. In 1038, Kraków became the seat of the Polish government. By the end of the tenth century, the city was

1785-664: A number of historic landmarks and two smaller squares featured on both sides. Grodzka ends at the foot of the Wawel Hill ; with the Wawel architectural complex spread above, featuring Wawel Castle with an armoury , and the Cathedral . Some of the most revered as well as the lesser known points of interest and historic landmarks of the city stand on the path of the Royal Road. A more complete list of them would also include

1904-558: A number of residential estates ( osiedla ): Bieżanów Nowy, Kolejowe, Medyków, Na Kozłówce, Nad Potokiem, Parkowe, Prokocim Nowy and Złocień. Podgórze is situated on the right (southern) bank of the Vistula River. Initially a fishing village at the foot of Lasota Hill, it was granted city status by the Austrian Emperor Joseph II in 1784. From 1784 to 1915 it was an independent township; in 1910 Podgórze

2023-410: A showcase setting for many historic forms of architecture developed over the ten centuries, especially Gothic , Renaissance and Baroque styles. Renowned artisans and skilled craftsmen from present-day Italy and Germany were brought and sponsored by kings or nobles who contributed to architectural wealth and diversity . The Brick Gothic manner as well as countless structural elements such as

2142-765: A small cadre military unit , the First Cadre Company —the predecessor of the Polish Legions —which set out from Kraków to fight for the liberation of Poland. The city was briefly besieged by Russian troops in November 1914. Austrian rule in Kraków ended in 1918 when the Polish Liquidation Committee assumed power. Following the emergence of the Second Polish Republic in 1918, Kraków resumed its role as

2261-602: A sophisticated regional centre of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. New representative government buildings and multi-story tenement houses were built at around that time. Much of the urban-planning beyond the walls of the Old Town was done by Polish architects and engineers trained in Vienna . Some major projects of the era include the development of the Jagiellonian University 's new premises and

2380-497: A then-suburban neighborhood, Podgórze District , to become Kraków's ghetto, where many Jews subsequently died of illness or starvation. Initially, most ghettos were open and Jews were allowed to enter and exit freely, but as security became tighter the ghettos were generally closed. From autumn 1941, the SS developed the policy of extermination through labour , which further worsened the already bleak conditions for Jews. The inhabitants of

2499-471: Is Kraków's Administrative District No. 1. It consists of the historic Kraków Old Town itself, as well as the Wawel castle hill, the former largely Jewish quarter of Kazimierz , and a number of other neighbourhoods surrounding the old town: Nowe Miasto ("New Town"), Nowy Świat ("New World"), Kleparz , Okół, Piasek, Stradom and Warszawskie (partly in Prądnik Czerwony ). Kraków's historic centre, covering

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2618-570: Is Kraków's Administrative District No. III. Until 1990 it was a part of District No. I ( Stare Miasto ). It borders Prądnik Biały to the north-west, Mistrzejowice and Czyżyny to the east, and Stare Miasto and Grzegórzki to the south. It consists of neighbourhoods called Prądnik Czerwony, Olsza (partly in Grzegórzki), Rakowice , Śliczna, Ugorek , Warszawskie (partly in Stare Miasto) and Wieczysta . Prądnik Biały ("White Prądnik")

2737-399: Is Kraków's Administrative District No. IV, the most northerly district in the city. Until 1990 it was a part of District No. V ( Krowodrza ). It borders Bronowice , Krowodrza , Stare Miasto and Grzegórzki . It consists of neighbourhoods called Prądnik Biały, Azory, Bronowice Wielkie, Górka Narodowa, Tonie, Witkowice, Żabiniec, Osiedle Krowodrza Górka and Osiedle Witkowice Nowe. Krowodrza

2856-470: Is Kraków's Administrative District No. V, until 24 May 2006 known as Łobzów . It borders Stare Miasto to the east, Zwierzyniec to the south, Bronowice to the west and Prądnik Biały to the north. It consists of the former villages of Czarna Wieś, Krowodrza, Łobzów and Nowa Wieś, the Cichy Kącik estate, and a quarter with housing for students of the AGH University of Science and Technology . Bronowice

2975-435: Is Kraków's Administrative District No. VI, split in 1990 from District No. V. It is bordered by Prądnik Biały to the north, Krowodrza to the east and Zwierzyniec to the south. It consists of the former villages of Bronowice, Bronowice Małe and Mydlniki, and estates called Osiedle Bronowice Nowe and Osiedle Widok Zarzecze. Zwierzyniec is Kraków's Administrative District No. VII. It borders Bronowice and Krowodrza to

3094-405: Is Kraków's Administrative District No. XII. Until 24 May 2006 it was known as District XII Prokocim-Bieżanów; it was a part of Podgórze district until 1990. It borders Podgórze to the north and Podgórze Duchackie to the west. The district takes its name from its constituent neighbourhoods of Bieżanów and Prokocim; it also contains the neighbourhoods of Bieżanów Kolonia, Kaim, Łazy and Rżąka, and

3213-500: Is Kraków's Administrative District No. XIV. It borders Grzegórzki , Prądnik Czerwony , Mistrzejowice , Bieńczyce , Nowa Huta , and (to the south, across the river) Podgórze . Until 1990 it was part of Nowa Huta district. It includes the former village of Czyżyny, as well as the neighbourhood of Łęg and a number of residential estates. Mistrzejowice is Kraków's Administrative District No. XV. It borders Prądnik Czerwony , Czyżyny , Bieńczyce and Wzgórza Krzesławickie . It includes

3332-486: Is also assessed as being of international significance as part of the Pan-European ecological network. Kraków has a humid continental climate , denoted by Köppen classification as Dfb , somewhat boardering on an oceanic climate ( Cfb ); with climate change winters are rapidly becoming milder, and hot summers days above 30C are increasingly common, but with winter temperatures on average still below freezing, it

3451-412: Is an archaic possessive form of Krak and essentially means "Krak's (town)". The true origin of the name is highly disputed among historians, with many theories in existence and no unanimous consensus. The first recorded mention of Prince Krakus (then written as Grakch ) dates back to 1190, although the town existed as early as the seventh century, when it was inhabited by the tribe of Vistulans. It

3570-801: Is located on the border between different physiographic regions : the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland in the north-western parts of the city, the Małopolska Upland in the north-east, the Sandomierz Basin (east) and the Western Beskidian Foothills of the Carpathians (south). There are five nature reserves in Kraków, with a combined area of ca. 48.6 hectares (120 acres). Due to their ecological value, these areas are legally protected. The western part of

3689-534: Is one of the most populous areas of the city. The historic area of present-day Nowa Huta is one of the few places in Poland settled continuously since the neolithic period. Archeological research has discovered a big Celtic settlement and Poland's oldest Slavic settlements there. A mound was erected by Vistulans in the 8th century. According to legend, the Wanda Mound is a tomb of Wanda, daughter of Krak,

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3808-415: Is particularly notable for its many renaissance buildings and picturesque streets, as well as the historic Jewish quarter located in the north-eastern part of Kazimierz. Kazimierz was founded in the 14th century to the south-east of the city centre and soon became a wealthy, well-populated area where construction of imposing properties became commonplace. Perhaps the most important feature of medieval Kazimierz

3927-455: Is perhaps best defined as having a semicontinental climate. In older reference periods it was classified as a warm summer continental climate ( Dfb ). By classification of Wincenty Okołowicz , it has a warm temperate climate in the centre of continental Europe with the "fusion" of different features. Due to its geographic location, the city may be under marine influence, sometimes Arctic influence, but without direct influence, giving

4046-486: Is possible that the name of the city is derived from the word kruk , meaning 'crow' or 'raven'. The city's full official name is Stołeczne Królewskie Miasto Kraków , which can be translated as " Royal Capital City of Kraków". In English, a person born or living in Kraków is a Cracovian ( Polish : krakowianin or krakus ). Until the 1990s the English version of the name was often written as Cracow, but now

4165-551: Is the Krakus Mound on Lasota Hill, believed to be the grave of the legendary prince Krakus . Carl 's Bridge, linking Podgórze with Kraków proper across the Vistula and located between today's Mostowa and Brodzińskiego streets, was built in 1802 and destroyed by a flood just 11 years later in 1813. A new pedestrian-and-cyclists-only bridge was completed in the summer of 2010 on the site of the 19th century original. Czyżyny

4284-515: Is the mayor , or President of Kraków, elected every four years. The election of the City Council and of the local head of government , which takes place at the same time, is based on legislation introduced on 20 June 2002. The President of Kraków, re-elected for his fourth term in 2014, is Jacek Majchrowski . Several members of the Polish national Parliament ( Sejm ) are elected from the Kraków constituency . The city's official symbols include

4403-472: The Academy of Fine Arts ( Akademia Sztuk Pięknych ) on the right-hand side and crosses Basztowa Street – to the medieval barbican ( Barbakan ). The Gothic-style Barbakan , built in 1499, is one of only three such fortified outposts still surviving in Europe and also, the best preserved. The Road passes the old fortifications through Floriańska Gate under a defensive tower. It is the original entrance to

4522-554: The Barbican ( Barbakan ), St. Florian's Gate , Kazimierz and the Wawel Castle , was included as the first of its kind on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978. The central core surrounded by Planty Park remains the most prominent example of an old town in the country, with the medieval street layout still in existence. Kraków was the royal capital of Poland for many centuries, until Sigismund III Vasa relocated

4641-486: The CORINE biotopes programme due to their unique flora, fauna, geomorphology and landscape. The western part of Kraków constitutes the so-called Obszar Krakowski ecological network, including the ecological corridor of the Vistula. The southern slopes of limestone hills provide conditions for the development of thermophilous vegetation, grasslands and shrubs . The city is spaced along an extended latitudinal transect of

4760-931: The Charles University in Prague . The city continued to grow under the Jagiellonian dynasty . As the capital of the Kingdom of Poland and a member of the Hanseatic League , the city attracted many craftsmen from abroad, businesses, and guilds as science and the arts began to flourish. The royal chancery and the university ensured a first flourishing of Polish literary culture in the city. The 15th and 16th centuries were known as Poland's Złoty Wiek or Golden Age . Many works of Polish Renaissance art and architecture were created, including ancient synagogues in Kraków's Jewish quarter located in

4879-599: The Church of St. Wojciech ( St Adalbert's ) and not far behind, the All Saints Square ( pl. Wszystkich Świętych ) with Wielopolski Palace (the seat of Kraków's mayor ) and the Church of St. Francis of Assisi on its west side with Shroud of Turin exact replica. Just three small city blocks down Grodzka, there's the St. Mary Magdalene Square with the Church of Saints Peter and Paul (first Baroque church in Poland ) and

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4998-584: The Cuban Revolution have been renamed to honor Pope John Paul II and the Polish exile leader Władysław Anders . In 2004 Plac Centralny, Nowa Huta's central square which once was home to a giant statue of Lenin - on display at High Chaparral Museum in Hillerstorp Sweden, was renamed Ronald Reagan Central Square (Plac Centralny im. Ronalda Reagana) in honor of the former U.S. President . However, this decision led to many protests, and

5117-537: The Eastern Bloc , was enforced from 1949 to 1956. It involved all domains of art, but its most spectacular achievements were made in the field of urban design. The guidelines for this new trend were spelled-out in a 1949 resolution of the National Council of Party Architects. Architecture was to become a weapon in establishing the new social order by the communists. The ideological impact of urban design

5236-576: The House of Vasa moved the administrative capital of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from Kraków to Warsaw . The city was destabilised by pillaging in the 1650s during the Swedish invasion , especially during the 1655 siege . Later in 1707, the city underwent an outbreak of bubonic plague that left 20,000 of the city's residents dead. Already weakened during the 18th century, by

5355-613: The Kraków Ghetto were later murdered or sent to German extermination camps , including Bełżec and Auschwitz , and to Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp . The largest deportations within the Distrikt occurred from June to September 1942. More specifically, mass deportation from Kraków's ghetto occurred in the first week of June 1942, and the ghetto was finally liquidated in March 1943. The film director Roman Polanski survived

5474-584: The Kraków uprising of 1846, which was crushed by the Austrian authorities. The Free City was therefore annexed into the Austrian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Kraków ( Polish : Wielkie Księstwo Krakowskie , German : Großherzogtum Krakau ), which was legally separate from but administratively part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria (more simply Austrian Galicia). During the era of

5593-719: The Kraków-Częstochowa Upland Jurassic Landscape Parks' Board, which deals with the protection areas of the Polish Jura. Under its jurisdiction are: the Bielany-Tyniec Landscape Park (Park Bielańsko-Tyniecki), Tenczynek Landscape Park (Park Tencziński) and Kraków Valleys Landscape Park (Park Krajobrazowy Dolinki Krakowskie), with their watersheds. The natural reserves of the Polish Jura Chain are part of

5712-608: The National Museum , Kraków Opera , Juliusz Słowacki Theatre , National Stary Theatre , and the Jagiellonian Library . Kraków is classified as a global city with the ranking of "high sufficiency" by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network . The city is served by John Paul II International Airport , the country's second busiest airport and the most important international airport for

5831-759: The Revolutions of 1989 and the birth of the Third Republic in the latter half of the 20th century, a number of new architectural projects were completed, including the construction of large business parks and commercial facilities such as the Galeria Krakowska , or infrastructure investments like the Kraków Fast Tram . A good example of this would be the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology designed by Arata Isozaki ,

5950-579: The Vistula River Valley with a network of tributaries including its right tributary Wilga , and left: Rudawa , Białucha, Dłubnia and Sanka. The rivers and their valleys along with bodies of water are some of the most interesting natural wonders of Kraków. Kraków and its environment, surrounded by mountains, suffer from Europe's dirtiest air pollution because of smog , caused by burning coal for heating, especially in winter. The Kraków City Council has 43 elected members, one of whom

6069-520: The city defensive walls and now encircled by the Planty park; the Wawel , which is the site of the Royal Castle and the Cathedral ; Stradom and Kazimierz , the latter originally divided into Christian and Jewish quarters; as well as the ancient town of Kleparz . Major districts added in the 19th and 20th centuries include Podgórze , which until 1915 was a separate town on the southern bank of

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6188-706: The invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in September 1939, the city of Kraków became part of the General Government , a separate administrative region of the Third Reich. On 26 October 1939, the Nazi régime set up Distrikt Krakau , one of four districts within the General Government. On the same day, the city of Kraków became the capital of the administration. The General Government

6307-486: The 11th century. The district contains many open spaces, Zakrzówek Nature Park being the most popular of them. A new complex of university buildings, called the Third Campus of the Jagiellonian University , is being developed within the district. Łagiewniki–Borek Fałęcki is Kraków's Administrative District No. IX, also known as District IX Łagiewniki. Until 1990 it was a part of Podgórze district. It consists of

6426-572: The 19th and early 20th centuries in Kraków include the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts, the directorate of the Polish State Railways as well as the original complex of Kraków Główny railway station and the city's Academy of Economics . It was also at around that time that Kraków's first radial boulevards began to appear, with the city undergoing a large-scale program aimed at transforming the ancient Polish capital into

6545-609: The 2007-built Pawilon Wyspiański 2000 , which is used as a multi-purpose information and exhibition space, or the Małopolski Garden of Arts ( Małopolski Ogród Sztuki ), a multi-purpose exhibition and theatre complex located in the historic Old Town. There are about 40 parks in Kraków, including dozens of gardens and forests. Several, like the Planty Park , Botanical Garden , Zoological Garden , Royal Garden , Park Krakowski , Jordan Park and Błonia Park are located in

6664-604: The Chaste who following the example of Wrocław , introduced city rights modelled on the Magdeburg law allowing for tax benefits and new trade privileges for the citizens. In 1259, the city was again ravaged by the Mongols. A third attack in 1287 was repelled thanks in part to the newly built fortifications . In 1315 a large alliance of Poland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden was formed in Kraków. In 1335, King Casimir III

6783-448: The Free City included the towns of Chrzanow , Trzebinia and Nowa Gora and 224 villages. Outside the city, mining and metallurgy started developing. The population of Kraków itself grew in this time from 23,000 to 43,000; that of the overall republic from 88,000 to 103,000. The population of the city had an increasing number of Catholic clergy, officials and intelligentsia with which the rich townspeople sympathised. They were opposed to

6902-435: The Germans arrested more than 180 university professors and academics, and sent them to the Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps , though the survivors were later released on the request of prominent Italians. Before the formation of ghettos , which began in the Kraków District in December 1939, Jews were encouraged to flee the city. For those who remained, the German authorities decided in March 1941 to allocate

7021-435: The Great ( Polish : Kazimierz ) declared the two western suburbs to be a new city named after him, Kazimierz ( Latin : Casimiria ). The defensive walls were erected around the central section of Kazimierz in 1362, and a plot was set aside for the Augustinian order next to Skałka . The city rose to prominence in 1364, when Casimir founded the University of Kraków , the second oldest university in central Europe after

7140-484: The Habsburgs to the municipal council only half were Polish. From 1796 to 1809, the population of the city rose from 22,000 to 26,000 with an increasing percentage of nobles and officials. In 1809, Napoleon Bonaparte captured former Polish territories from Austria and made the town part of the Duchy of Warsaw . During the time of the Duchy of Warsaw, requirements to upkeep the Polish army followed by tours of Austrian, Polish and Russian troops, plus Russian occupation and

7259-414: The Hipolit House division of the Historical Museum of Kraków across from St. Mary's Basilica (including a smaller Church of St Barbara), at the entrance to Main Market Square . On the east side of Sukiennice Cloth Hall with the free-standing Town Hall Tower protruding from behind, there is the Adam Mickiewicz Monument , one of the best known bronze monuments in Poland. At the beginning of Grodzka:

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7378-412: The Jewish population of the city had grown to approximately 70,000. According to German statistics from 1940, over 200,000 Jews lived within the entire Kraków District, comprising more than 5 percent of the district's total population. However, these statistics probably underestimate the situation. In November 1939, during an operation known as Sonderaktion Krakau ('special operation Kraków'),

7497-499: The Kraków Ghetto. Oskar Schindler selected employees from the ghetto to work in his enamelware factory Deutsche Emailwarenfabrik , saving them from the camps. Similarly, many men capable of physical labor were saved from deportation to extermination camps and instead sent to labor camps across the General Government. By September 1943, the last of the Jews from the Kraków Ghetto had been deported. Although looted by occupational authorities , Kraków remained relatively undamaged at

7616-544: 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 following the Tatar invasions of 1259 and 1287. It 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 ( Kościół Mariacki ), Church of St. Wojciech ( St. Adalbert's ), Church of St. Barbara, as well as other national treasures. At

7735-482: The Old Town, Wawel and Kazimierz, was entered on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1978. Kraków has the most prominent example of an old town in the country, because for many centuries, Kraków was the royal capital of Poland, until Sigismund III Vasa relocated the court to Warsaw in 1596. Medieval Kraków 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

7854-430: The Renaissance attics with decorative pinnacles became recognisable features of historical buildings in Kraków. Built from its earliest nucleus outward, the city's monuments can be seen in historical order by walking from the city centre out, towards its newer districts. Kraków's historic centre, which includes the Old Town ( Stare Miasto ), the Main Market Square ( Rynek Główny ), the Cloth Hall ( Sukiennice ),

7973-435: The Vistula, and Nowa Huta , east of the city centre, built after World War II and incorporated into the city in 1951. Between 1951 and 1973 the city was divided into six districts: Stare Miasto, Zwierzyniec, Kleparz, Grzegórzki, Podgórze and Nowa Huta. From 1973 until the introduction of the present division in 1991 there were four districts: Śródmieście ("City Centre"), Podgórze, Krowodrza and Nowa Huta. The current division

8092-448: The Youth Departments. Subsequently, the number of criminal offences dropped by 3 percent between 2000 and 2001, and the rate of detection increased by 1.4 percent to a total of 30.2 percent in the same period. The city is receiving help in carrying out the program from all educational institutions and the local media, including TV, radio and the press. Kraków is divided into 18 administrative districts ( dzielnica ) or boroughs, each with

8211-413: The already existing defensive walls. The walls were expanded again in 1608 due to the growth of the community and influx of Jews from Bohemia. In 1572, King Sigismund II , the last of the Jagiellons, died childless. The Polish throne passed to Henry III of France and then to other foreign-based rulers in rapid succession, causing a decline in the city's importance. Furthermore, in 1596, Sigismund III of

8330-412: The banks of the Vistula, St. Mary's Basilica , Saints Peter and Paul Church , and the largest medieval market square in Europe, Rynek Główny . Kraków is home to Jagiellonian University , one of the oldest universities in the world and often considered Poland's most reputable academic institution of higher learning. The city also hosts a number of institutions of national significance, including

8449-458: The building of the Collegium Novum just west of the Old Town. The imperial style planning of the city's further development continued until the return of Poland's independence, following the First World War. Early modernist style in Kraków is represented by such masterpieces as the Palace of Art by Franciszek Mączyński and the 'House under the Globe'. Secession style architecture, which had arrived in Kraków from Vienna , became popular towards

8568-709: 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 ( Wieża ratuszowa ). 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

8687-587: The centre of the city; with others, such as Zakrzówek, Wolski forest, Strzelecki Park and Lotników Park in the surrounding districts. Parks cover about 318.5 hectares (787 acres; 1.23 sq mi) of the city. The best-known park in Kraków is the Planty Park. Established between 1822 and 1830 in place of the old city walls, it forms a green belt around the Old Town and consists of a chain of smaller gardens designed in various styles and adorned with monuments. The park has an area of 21 hectares (52 acres) and

8806-591: The city and the only gate, of the eight city gates built in the Middle Ages , not dismantled during the 19th century modernization of Kraków. Inside the Old Town ( Stare Miasto ), the Road continues along Floriańska Street and enters the Main Square ( Rynek Główny ), the largest medieval market square in Europe. On the left-hand side, at the northeast corner of the square stands St. Mary's Basilica , home of

8925-615: The city variable meteorological conditions over short spaces of time. The city lies in proximity to the Tatra Mountains and there are often occurrences of a foehn wind called halny , causing temperatures to rise rapidly. In relation to Warsaw, temperatures are very similar for most of the year, except that in the colder months southern Poland has a larger daily temperature range, more moderate winds, generally more rainy days and with greater chances of clear skies on average, especially in winter. The higher sun angle also allows for

9044-490: The city was spared from destruction. In 1978, Karol Wojtyła , archbishop of Kraków , was elevated to the papacy as Pope John Paul, the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. The Old Town and historic centre of Kraków, along with the nearby Wieliczka Salt Mine , are Poland's first World Heritage Sites . Its extensive cultural and architectural legacy across the epochs of Gothic , Renaissance , and Baroque architecture includes Wawel Cathedral and Wawel Royal Castle on

9163-532: The city, along its northern and north-western side, borders an area of international significance known as the Jurassic Bielany - Tyniec refuge. The main motives for the protection of this area include plant and animal wildlife and the area's geomorphological features and landscape. Another part of the city is located within the ecological 'corridor' of the Vistula River valley. This corridor

9282-589: The conservative landed aristocracy who also were drawn more and more to the city real estates even though their income still mainly came from their agricultural possessions in the Republic, the Kingdom of Poland and Galicia. The percentage of the Jewish population in the city also increased in this time from 20.8% to 30.4%. However, nationalist sentiment and other political issues led to instability; this culminated in

9401-427: The construction of the country's largest steel mill in the newly created suburb of Nowa Huta . The creation of the giant Lenin Steelworks (now Sendzimir Steelworks owned by Mittal ) sealed Kraków's transformation from a university city into an industrial centre. In an effort that spanned two decades, Karol Wojtyła , the cardinal archbishop of Kraków from 1964 to 1978, successfully lobbied for permission to build

9520-534: The court to Warsaw in 1596. The district is bisected by the Royal Road , the coronation route traversed by the Kings of Poland . Several important monuments were lost in the course of history, notably the Ratusz town hall . However, the Gothic Town Hall Tower measuring 70 m (229 ft 8 in) in height remains standing. In addition to the old town, the city's district of Kazimierz

9639-661: The devastation brought by the Second World War, and have remained empty. Most recent efforts at restoring the historic neighborhoods gained new impetus around 1993. Kazimierz is now a well-visited area, seeing a booming growth in Jewish-themed restaurants, bars, bookstores and souvenir shops. As the city of Kraków began to expand further under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire , the new architectural styles also developed. Key buildings from

9758-487: The end of the Partitions . With Poland's regained independence came the major change in the fortunes of Kraków—now the second most important city of a sovereign nation. The state began to make new plans for the city development and commissioned a number of representative buildings. The predominant style for new projects was modernism with various interpretations of the art-deco style. Important buildings constructed in

9877-768: The end of World War II, with most of the city's historical and architectural legacy spared. Soviet forces under the command of Marshal Ivan Konev entered the city on 18 January 1945, and began arresting Poles loyal to the Polish government-in-exile or those who had served in the Home Army. After the war, under the Polish People's Republic (officially declared in 1952), the intellectual and academic community of Kraków came under complete political control. The universities were soon deprived of their printing rights and autonomy. The Stalinist government of Poland ordered

9996-594: The first churches in the newly industrialized suburbs. In 1978, the Catholic Church elevated Wojtyła to the papacy as John Paul II , the first non-Italian pope in over 450 years. In the same year, UNESCO , following the application of local authorities, placed Kraków Old Town on the first list of World Heritage Sites . Kraków lies in the southern part of Poland, on the Vistula River , approximately 219 m (719 ft) above sea level . The city

10115-625: The following: Battle of Grunwald Monument at the centre of pl. Matejki , next to the Academy of Fine Arts , right across from Barbakan at Basztowa Street; Arsenal of the Czartoryski Museum on Pijarska Street adjacent to Florian Gate at the foot of Floriańska Street; the Matejko Manor division of the National Museum as well as the Jagiellonian University Museum of Pharmacy on Floriańska; and

10234-441: The founder of modern Polish drama, Stanisław Wyspiański . Fin de siècle Kraków evolved into a modern metropolis; running water and electric streetcars were introduced in 1901, and between 1910 and 1915, Kraków and its surrounding suburban communities were gradually combined into a single administrative unit called Greater Kraków ( Wielki Kraków ). At the outbreak of World War I on 3 August 1914, Józef Piłsudski formed

10353-412: The free city, a free trade zone led to positive economic development. But because of the unstable political situation and insecurity about the future, not much of the accumulated wealth was invested. Through the increase of taxes, customs and regulations, prices soared and the city fell into a recession. From 1844 to 1850 the population was diminished by over 4,000 inhabitants. In 1866, Austria granted

10472-435: The grounds of one of the city's larger parks, Błonia Park. The less prominent Park Krakowski, founded in 1885 by Stanisław Rehman , was a popular destination point for Cracovians at the end of the 19th century, but has since been greatly reduced in size because of rapid real estate development . There are five nature reserves in Kraków with a total area of 48.6 hectares (120 acres). Smaller green zones constitute parts of

10591-464: The historic synagogues. In 1794, Tadeusz Kościuszko initiated an unsuccessful insurrection in the town's Main Square which, in spite of his victorious Battle of Racławice against a numerically superior Russian army , resulted in the third and final partition of Poland . As a result, Kraków fell under Habsburg rule. In 1802, German became the town's official language. Of the members appointed by

10710-485: The inhabitants of south-eastern Poland. In 2000, Kraków was named European Capital of Culture . In 2013, Kraków was officially approved as a UNESCO City of Literature . The city hosted World Youth Day in 2016, and the European Games in 2023. The name of Kraków is traditionally derived from Krakus (Krak, Grakch), the legendary founder of Kraków and a ruler of the tribe of Vistulans . In Polish, Kraków

10829-635: The mid-1790s the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth had twice been partitioned by its neighbors: Russia , the Habsburg empire and Prussia . In 1791, the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II changed the status of Kazimierz as a separate city and made it into a district of Kraków. The richer Jewish families began to move out. However, because of the injunction against travel on the Sabbath , most Jewish families stayed relatively close to

10948-401: The most widespread modern English version is Krakow. Kraków's early history begins with evidence of a Stone Age settlement on the present site of the Wawel Hill . A legend attributes Kraków's founding to the mythical ruler Krakus , who built it above a cave occupied by a dragon , Smok Wawelski . The first written record of the city's name dates back to 965, when Kraków was described as

11067-401: The neighbourhood of Łagiewniki to the north, and Borek Fałęcki to the south. In the north-west is the estate called Osiedle Cegielniana. The district borders Podgórze to the north, Podgórze Duchackie to the east, Swoszowice to the south and Dębniki to the west. Swoszowice is Kraków's Administrative District No. X. Until 1990 it was a part of Podgórze district. It borders Dębniki to

11186-430: The neighbourhoods of Batowice, Dziekanowice and Mistrzejowice, and a number of residential estates. Bieńczyce is Kraków's Administrative District No. XVI. It borders Czyżyny to the south-west, Mistrzejowice to the north-west, Wzgórza Krzesławickie , to the north-east, and Nowa Huta to the south-east. Wzgórza Krzesławickie ("Krzesławice Heights") is Kraków's Administrative District No. XVII. Until 24 May 2006 it

11305-490: The neighbourhoods of Kliny Zacisze and Mochnaniec, as well as a number of newly built estates. Dębniki is a primarily residential area, with diverse architecture, ranging from 19th-century tenements in the area of Rynek Dębnicki (Dębniki Market) to plattenbau blocks of flats in the Podwawelskie and Ruczaj estates and suburban areas of detached houses in the outskirts. In Tyniec is a famous Benedictine abbey, founded in

11424-648: The north, Stare Miasto to the east, and Dębniki to the south (across the Vistula ). It includes the neighbourhoods (former villages) of Bielany , Chełm, Olszanica, Półwsie Zwierzynieckie, Przegorzały , Wola Justowska , Zakamycze and Zwierzyniec, and the Salwator estate. The district contains the Kościuszko Mound and the Blessed Bronisława Chapel . In Bielany there is a Camaldolese monastery, with

11543-565: The north-eastern part of Kazimierz, such as the Old Synagogue . During the reign of Casimir IV , various artists came to work and live in Kraków, and Johann Haller established a printing press in the city after Kasper Straube had printed the Calendarium Cracoviense , the first work printed in Poland, in 1473. In 1520, the most famous church bell in Poland, named Zygmunt after Sigismund I of Poland ,

11662-555: 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 Floriańska 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

11781-414: The nucleus of a national spirit. After the invasion of Poland , at the start of World War II , the newly defined Distrikt Krakau became the seat of Nazi Germany 's General Government . The Jewish population was forced into the Kraków Ghetto , a walled zone from where they were sent to Nazi extermination camps such as the nearby Auschwitz , and Nazi concentration camps like Płaszów . However,

11900-534: The old city walls in the medieval suburb of Kleparz, now a central district of Kraków. It begins at St. Florian's Church ( Kościół św. Floriana ), containing the relics of St. Florian – the Patron Saint of Poland – miraculously saved numerous times in the 12th, 16th and 17th centuries. St. Florian's Church was also the starting point for royal funeral processions , concluding at Wawel Cathedral . The Royal Road crosses Matejko Square ( pl. Matejki ), passes

12019-466: The oldest and the largest Gothic altarpiece in the world. At the center of the plaza, surrounded by row houses ( kamienice ) and noble residences, stands the Renaissance cloth hall Sukiennice flanked by the Town Hall Tower ( Wieża ratuszowa ). The Road passes the Romanesque Church of St. Wojciech in the south-eastern corner of the square, and leads down Grodzka Street along

12138-538: The purpose of carrying out orders for the Nazis. These orders included the registration of all Jewish people living in each area, the collection of taxes, and the formation of forced-labour groups. The Polish Home Army maintained a parallel underground administrative system. At the outbreak of World War II , some 56,000 Jews resided in Kraków—almost one-quarter of a total population of about 250,000; by November 1939,

12257-535: The river was filled in with earth and rock, and subsequently built over. By the 1930s, Kraków had 120 officially registered synagogues and prayer houses that spanned across the old city. Much of Jewish intellectual life had moved to new centres like Podgórze . This, in turn, led to the redevelopment and renovation of much of Kazimierz and the development of new districts in Kraków. Most historic buildings in central Kazimierz today are preserved in their original form. Some old buildings, however, were not repaired after

12376-590: The style of Polish modernism include the Feniks 'LOT' building on Basztowa Street, the Feniks department store on the Main Square and the Municipal Savings Bank on Szczepański Square. The Józef Piłsudski house is also of note as a particularly good example of interwar architecture in the city. After the Second World War, new Communist government adopted Stalinist monumentalism . The doctrine of Socialist realism in Poland , as in other countries of

12495-529: The traditional name is still widely used. Krak%C3%B3w Kraków ( Polish: [ˈkrakuf] ), also spelled as Cracow or Krakow , is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland . Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship , the city has a population of 804,237 (2023), with approximately 8 million additional people living within

12614-573: The walls was filled in and turned into a green belt known as Planty Park . Grzegórzki is Kraków's Administrative District No. II. Until 1990 it was a part of District No. I ( Stare Miasto ). It borders the districts of Stare Miasto to the west, Prądnik Czerwony to the north, Czyżyny to the east, and Podgórze across the river to the south. It consists of neighbourhoods called Dąbie, Grzegórzki, Olsza (partly in Prądnik Czerwony), Osiedle Oficerskie and Wesoła. Prądnik Czerwony ("Red Prądnik")

12733-488: The west and Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki and Podgórze Duchackie to the north. It includes the Swoszowice spa neighbourhood, as well as the neighbourhoods of Bania, Barycz, Jugowice, Kliny Borkowskie, Kosocice, Lusina, Łysa Góra ("Bald Mount"), Opatkowice, Rajsko, Siarczana Góra ("Sulphur Mount"), Soboniowice, Wróblowice and Zbydniowice. Podgórze Duchackie is Kraków's Administrative District No. XI. Until 24 May 2006 it

12852-437: Was a busy trading centre of Central Europe in 985. In 1038, it became the seat of Polish monarchs from the Piast dynasty , and subsequently served as the centre of administration under Jagiellonian kings and of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth until the late 16th century, when Sigismund III transferred his royal court to Warsaw . With the emergence of the Second Polish Republic in 1918, Kraków reaffirmed its role as

12971-458: Was also used for augmenting Poland's Socialist national format. However, in the course of incorporating the principles of Socialist realism, there were quite a few deviations introduced by the communists. From 1953, critical opinions in the Party were increasingly frequent, and the doctrine was given up in 1956 marking the end of Stalinism . The soc-realist centre of Nowa Huta is considered to be

13090-523: Was cast by Hans Behem. At that time, Hans Dürer , a younger brother of artist and thinker Albrecht Dürer , was Sigismund's court painter . Hans von Kulmbach made altarpieces for several churches. In 1553, the Kazimierz district council gave the Jewish Qahal (council of a Jewish self-governing community) a licence for the right to build their own interior walls across the western section of

13209-611: Was introduced on 27 March 1991 and revised by Kraków City Council on 19 April 1995. The districts were assigned Roman numerals as well as names. The names and numbers of the 18 districts are now as follows: Stare Miasto (I), Grzegórzki (II), Prądnik Czerwony (III), Prądnik Biały (IV), Krowodrza (V), Bronowice (VI), Zwierzyniec (VII), Dębniki (VIII), Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki (IX), Swoszowice (X), Podgórze Duchackie (XI), Bieżanów-Prokocim (XII), Podgórze (XIII), Czyżyny (XIV), Mistrzejowice (XV), Bieńczyce (XVI), Wzgórza Krzesławickie (XVII), and Nowa Huta (XVIII). Stare Miasto , meaning "Old Town",

13328-421: Was known as District XI Wola Duchacka . It was a part of Podgórze district until 1990. It borders Podgórze to the north, Bieżanów-Prokocim to the east, Swoszowice to the south and Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki to the west. The district contains the neighbourhoods of Bonarka, Kurdwanów, Kurdwanów Nowy ("New Kurdwanów"), Osiedle Piaski Nowe, Osiedle Podlesie, Piaski Wielkie and Wola Duchacka. Bieżanów-Prokocim

13447-434: Was known as District XVII Grębałów. It borders Mistrzejowice and Bieńczyce to the west, and Nowa Huta to the south. The district of Wzgórza Krzesławickie comprises the former villages of Dłubnia, Grębałów, Kantorowice, Krzesławice, Lubocza , Łuczanowice, Wadów, Węgrzynowice, and Zesławice. Nowa Huta (literally "New Steel Mill") is the easternmost district of Kraków, numbered XVIII. With more than 200,000 inhabitants it

13566-529: Was reorganised to better differentiate between its political agenda and administrative functions. As a result, the Office of Public Information was created to handle inquiries and foster communication between city departments and citizens at large. In 2000, the city government introduced a new long-term program called "Safer City" in cooperation with the Police, Traffic, Social Services, Fire, Public Safety , and

13685-490: Was ruled by Governor-General Hans Frank , who was based in the city's Wawel Castle. The Nazis envisioned turning Kraków into a completely Germanised city; after removal of all Jews and Poles, renaming of locations and streets into the German language, and sponsorship of propaganda portraying the city as historically German. On 28 November 1939, Frank set up Judenräte ('Jewish Councils') to be run by Jewish citizens for

13804-583: Was the 13th largest town in Galicia . Formerly a residential and light-industry suburb of Kraków , it is now a fully integrated part of the city, not a suburb. Historic Podgórze is also officially part of Kraków's old town or 'stare miasto'. Other neighborhoods include the old villages of Płaszów, Rybitwy and Przewóz. Podgórze's total population is listed at 31,599, within an area of 24.6 km (as of 31 December 2006). The oldest man-made structure in Podgórze

13923-478: Was the only major, permanent bridge ( Pons Regalis ) across the northern arm of the Vistula. This natural barrier used to separate Kazimierz from the Old Town for several centuries, while the bridge connected Kraków to the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the lucrative Hungarian trade route. The last structure at this location (at the end of modern Stradom Street) was dismantled in 1880 when the northern arm of

14042-429: Was to become an ideal town for the communist propaganda and populated mostly by industrial workers (see: Socialist realism in Poland ) . In 1951 it was joined with Kraków as its new district and the following year tramway communication was started. Since the fall of Communism the city district that was once a showpiece for Stalinism now boasts many tributes to ardent anti-Communism. Streets formerly named after Lenin and

14161-406: Was valued more than aesthetics. It aimed at expressing persistence and power. This form of architecture was implemented in the new industrial district of Nowa Huta with apartment blocks constructed according to a Stalinist blueprint, with repetitious courtyards and wide, tree-lined avenues. Since the style of the Renaissance was generally regarded as the most revered in old Polish architecture, it

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