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Kraków

Cracow
Krakow Rynek Glowny panorama 2.jpg
XII, XIV, XIX, Kraków.jpg
Kościół p.w. św. Piotra i Pawła, Kraków.jpg
Wawel Krakow June 2006 003.jpg
Kamienica, Floriańska 55, Kraków 1.JPG
Rynek Główny 3, Kraków.JPG
  • Left to right: St. Mary's Basilica
  • Wawel Cathedral
  • Saints Peter and Paul Church
  • Renaissance courtyard within Wawel Castle
  • Floriańska Street
  • Cloth Hall
Flag of Kraków
Flag
 POL Kraków COA.svg
Coat of arms
Country Poland
Voivodeship Lesser Poland
County Krakow
Website www.krakow.pl
Official name: Historic Centre of Kraków
Type: Cultural
Designated: 1978 (2nd session)
UNESCO region: Europe

Kraków is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 and has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, economic, cultural and artistic life. Cited as one of Europe's most beautiful cities, its Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city has grown from a Stone Age settlement to Poland's second most important city. It began as a hamlet on Wawel Hill and was already being reported as a busy trading centre of Central Europe in 965. With the establishment of new universities and cultural venues at the emergence of the Second Polish Republic in 1918 and throughout the 20th century, Kraków regained its role as a major national academic and artistic centre. It is a major attraction for both local and international tourists, attracting nearly 13 million visitors a year.

Wawel castle
Wawel castle

The city has a population of about 770,000, with approximately 8 million additional people living within a 100 km (62 mi) radius of its main square. Kraków and its surroundings suffer from Europe's dirtiest air pollution because of smog, caused by burning coal for heating, especially in winter.

After the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany at the start of World War II, the newly defined Distrikt Krakau (Kraków District) became the capital of Germany's General Government. The Jewish population of the city was forced into a walled zone known as the Kraków Ghetto, from which they were sent to German extermination camps such as the nearby Auschwitz never to return, and the Nazi concentration camps like Płaszów. However, the city was spared from destruction and major bombing.

Krakow getto wall today
Krakow getto wall today

In 1978 UNESCO approved the first ever sites for its new World Heritage List, including the entire Old Town in inscribing Kraków's Historic Centre. Kraków is classified as a global city. Its extensive cultural heritage of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture includes the Wawel Cathedral and the Royal Castle on the banks of the Vistula, the St. Mary's Basilica, Saints Peter and Paul Church and the largest medieval market square in Europe, the Rynek Główny. The metropolitan city of Kraków is known as the city of churches.

Kraków, Pomnik Grunwaldzki - fotopolska.eu (331528)
Matejko Square is one of the city's more important public spaces

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 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 features and landscape.

There are about 40 parks in Kraków including dozens of gardens and forests. The Planty Park is the best-known park in Kraków. It was established between 1822 and 1830 in place of the old city walls, forming a green belt around the Old Town. It consists of a chain of smaller gardens designed in various styles and adorned with monuments. The Jordan Park founded in 1889 was the first public park of its kind in Europe.

Botanical garden Krakow (2006-05-13) 04
Botanical garden Krakow

Kraków is home to Jagiellonian University, one of the oldest universities in the world and traditionally Poland's most reputable institution of higher learning.

In 2000, Kraków was named the European Capital of Culture. In 2013, Kraków was officially approved as a UNESCO City of Literature. The city hosted the World Youth Day in July 2016.

Images for kids

  • Krakow nagrobek Kazimierza W

    Tomb of Casimir III the Great at Wawel Cathedral. Kraków was the capital of Poland from 1038 to 1596.

  • Kościół św. Wojciecha

    The Church of St. Adalbert is one of the oldest churches in the city, dating from the 11th century.

  • Nuremberg chronicles - CRACOVIA

    Woodcut of Kraków from the Nuremberg Chronicle, 1493

  • View of Kraków near the end of the 16th century

    View of Kraków (Cracovia) near the end of the 16th-century

  • Smuglewicz Kosciuszko 2

    Tadeusz Kościuszko takes the oath of loyalty to the Polish nation in Kraków's market square (Rynek), 1794

  • Józef Brodowski 001

    Act of granting the constitution to the Free City of Krakow. After the Partitions of Poland, Kraków was independent city republic and the only piece of sovereign Polish territory between 1815 and 1846.

  • Rząca Tadeusz, Rynek Główny w Krakowie

    Flower vendors in Rynek. First autochrome in Poland, dated 1912

  • Krakow-Ghetto-checkpoint

    Kraków Ghetto, 1942—a German checkpoint during operation Aktion Krakau

  • Camaldolese Monastery and Church in Bielany, Kraków

    Camaldolese Hermit Monastery in Bielany

  • 20180506 Kościół św. Augustyna i św. Jana Chrzciciela w Krakowie 2989 DxO

    Convent of Norbertine Sisters in Kraków-Zwierzyniec and the Vistula River during the summer season

  • A-10 Sukiennice w Krakowie Kraków, Rynek Główny MM

    The Renaissance Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) in Main Market Square

  • Barbakan Krakow z ulicy Basztowej

    The Kraków Barbican dating from around 1498 was once a fortified outpost of the inner medieval city.

  • Krakow Kanonicza 20070804 1000

    Kanonicza Street, at the foot of the Wawel Castle

  • Kraków 239a

    View of Kraków from St. Mary's Basilica in the Market Square

  • DZolopa 033 2013

    Palace of Art at Szczepański Square is an example of Art Nouveau architecture in central Kraków.

  • Basztowa Ur.Woj i NBP, Krakow

    Basztowa Street, filled with some of the most unique historical buildings in all architectural styles; part of the Royal Route of Kraków

  • Pawilon Wyspiański 2000, Kraków

    Pawilon Wyspiański 2000 is a rare example of Postmodern architecture present in Kraków's Old Town.

  • Planty Park, autumn, Old Town, Krakow, Poland

    Planty Park, which surrounds Kraków's Old Town

  • Planty Garden, pavilion, Old Town, Krakow, Poland

    A pavilion within the Planty Park during winter

  • Podgorze City Hall (new), Podgorze,Krakow,Poland

    The New Town Hall of Podgórze, which used to be a self-governing independent town until its incorporation into Kraków in 1915

  • Krakow WielopolskiPalace 6876

    Entrance to the Wielopolski Palace from 1560, the seat of Kraków's mayor, administration and city council

  • PomnikGrunwaldzki-PlacMatejki-POL, Kraków

    Matejko Square, featuring the Grunwald Monument at Kleparz, is one of the city's most important public spaces.

  • Nowa Huta jako idealne socjalistyczne miasto

    Socialist-realist district of Nowa Huta

  • Biurowiec Newton

    The Center for Business Innovation office complex in Kraków

  • Unity Tower, front, 2 Lubomirskiego street, Krakow, Poland

    Unity Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the city

  • Krakow, tram NGT6-2 n°2039

    Bombardier city tram on Piłsudski Bridge

  • 20150207 Pendolino ED250 PKP Intercity Krakow 5031

    PKP Intercity train at the Main Railway Station

  • Krakow - Wawel Cathedral from balloon - 2

    Wawel Cathedral, home to royal coronations and resting place of many national heroes; considered to be Poland's national sanctuary

  • Saint Anne church 2019 01

    Saint Anne's Church is the leading example of Baroque architecture in Poland.

  • Krakow univesity of economics main building cropped

    Kraków University of Economics

  • Collegium Maius 2017

    Collegium Maius, Jagiellonian University's oldest building

  • Lady with an Ermine - Leonardo da Vinci - Google Art Project

    Leonardo da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine, at the Czartoryski Museum

  • Kraków, Gmach Główny Muzeum Narodowego - fotopolska.eu (255212)

    The National Museum in Kraków is one of Poland's finest galleries of art.

  • Centrum kongresowe - Kraków

    Kraków Congress Centre – the business and cultural flagship of the city

  • 20110514 Krakow Teatr Slowackiego 9264

    Kraków's renowned Juliusz Słowacki Theatre

  • Kraków - Filharmonia 01

    Concert hall of the Kraków Philharmonic

  • Stadion przed meczem z APOELEM

    Wisła Kraków Stadium

  • Kraków Arena z lotu ptaa

    Tauron Arena Kraków

  • Stade Józef Piłsudski

    Cracovia Stadium

  • Zespol Wzgórza Wawelskiego 009

    Wawel Castle

  • Birkenau gate

    German concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau

  • 015Wieliczka

    Wieliczka Salt Mine

  • Pieskowa Skala Castle

    Pieskowa Skała castle

  • Opactwo Benedyktynów w Tyńcu w zimowej szacie

    Benedictine Tyniec Abbey

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