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Grand Square of Historical
Krakow
Krakow’s central Grand Square (Rynek Glowny, often translated
wrongly as “Main Market”) has been the hub of the city ever
since its Old Town historical district got the present grid of
streets in the 13th century. The huge 10-acre square, the
largest of all Europe’s medieval cities, is a curio in itself.
At the same time, it is arguably one of the world’s most
beautiful plazas.
Historical monuments at the Rynek Glowny grand square.
Krakow's chief landmarks at the Rynek Glowny central square are
the 16th-century Renaissance Cloth Hall
in the center, the 13th-century Gothic Town
Hall Tower, the magnificent 14th-century Gothic
basilica of the Virgin Mary’s with its astonishing Great Altar and the tiny church of St.
Adalbert's whose parts date back to the 11th century. Yet
practically all the Grand Square’s 47
buildings boast a considerable historical and/or
architectural value. And one cannot but regret that some
edifices once standing amid it were pulled down during the 19th
century, notably the 14th-century Gothic Town Hall.
Still Krakow's
hub of the city life.
Now as in the Middle Ages the Grand Square is the focus of
the city life. Krakow residents and visitors come here to
meet each other, to do business, to shop in numerous stores,
and to enjoy themselves in myriad restaurants, cafés and clubs. Krakow’s
forum serves also as the city’s most popular site of
open-air events – musical, theatrical, commercial,
political, etc.
Numerous sidewalk cafes line Rynek
Glowny (Grand Square)
as well as other streets and squares
of Krakow's central Old Town historical district.
Watch the
central square of Krakow online on video.
Krakow Old Town Historical
District
Poland's prime tourist attraction and a must-see in
Central Europe boasts numerous world-class monuments, charming
vistas, delightful atmosphere, and the best restaurants.
The immense Gothic church,
Krakow's principal temple since the 13th century, shelters
the world's greatest Gothic sculpture among its many
excellent works of art.
The world's oldest
shopping mall has been in business for 700 years. The present
Renaissance edifice dates from 1555.
Krakow's leaning tower was
built by the end of the 13th century.
Royal giant headdress tops
the city of Krakow since 1666
Hourly musical show in the
sky dates from the Middle Ages
Stroll Round the Grand Square
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