Kraków Market Square Guide
The Main Square, also known as Main Market Square or Rynek Glowny, is the biggest Medieval plaza in Europe. Its 40,000 square meters are truly astonishing.
The square is enclosed by elegant townhouses and Medieval palaces, the square is one of the city’s main meeting points for both locals and tourists. It is bustling with life all day long.
If you are visiting Krakow, you can’t miss the square.
Brief History
The Market Square of Krakow (Rynek Główny) has been laid out when the city itself was established in 1257. It came to life as a work of the city’s mayors, under the rule of a Polish King, Bolesław V the Chaste. It was actually the King’s property until it was gifted to the city itself in 1358.
Its main purpose was being a place where the merchants could sell their goods. It was divided into parts, each dedicated to a different good. There was a salt market, coal market, lead market and more.
It soon also became an administrative area. Many trials and executions took place on the Square. Most importantly it was a place of many important historical events in the Polish history.
Highlights
Enclosed by elegant townhouses and Medieval palaces, the square is one of the city’s main meeting points for both locals and tourists. It is bustling with life all day long.
Apart from its picturesque terraces and beautiful horse carriages that await their next customer, the Main Market Square is home to the following landmarks:
Cloth Hall (Sukiennice):
Standing in the centre of the square is one of Kraków’s most famous symbols, the Cloth Hall. Opened during the thirteenth century as a type of “shopping centre”, it was packed with market stands. It was later rebuilt in a Renaissance style, and used as an important international trade center.
Purchase items such as amber or trinkets.
St. Mary’s Basilica:
This fourteenth century temple has an imposing façade, flanked by two differently sized towers. It is one of Kraków’s most famous attractions.
It was erected at the end of the 13th century on the foundations of a Romanesque church. Over its long life, the church was rebuilt several times to create what we can admire today. The most important changes were the creation of the main altar by Veit Stoss, which is now considered a masterpiece of late Gothic sculpture, as well as the development of the stunning northern tower.
At the end of the 19th century, the inside of the Basilica was decorated with the paintings designed by Jan Matejko. The vault was meant to imitate a starry sky, and the walls got covered with various ornaments.
When you’re by the Basilica at a full hour you will hear a trumpet playing. This five-note Trumpet Call is played each hour by two firefighters. They play the melody in each of the four directions of the World, so each of them plays the same sound 48 times per day, so if you’re lucky you’ll get a glimpse one of them. The legend says that once when the enemy army tried to attack Krakow, a trumpeter played to alarm the city. The people of the city managed to close the gates, but one arrow reached and killed him. That’s why today the sound is abruptly finished.
Town Hall Tower:
Established during the fourteenth century, the 70-meter Town Hall Tower is the only part of the former Town Hall that still stands. At the top is an observation deck from which you can get a beautiful view of Kraków.
Church of St. Adalbert:
This small and modest temple dates from the tenth century. It was founded on the site where, according to the legend, St. Adalbert of Prague preached his sermons.
Heart of the city
The Krakow’s Main Square has always been a centre of the city life. The Adam Mickiewicz statue is the reference point and a popular meeting spot for the people of all ages. It is here when many loves blossomed and many amazing stories started.
Many inhabitants of the city choose to escape from it during their spare time. But if they stay, they often opt for a walk through those old, yet beautiful streets as a way of relaxing. The Square is so popular that it often gets pretty crowded. However, thanks to the height of the buildings located there it is still quite a view, no matter the number of tourists.
Anyone who’s even been to Krakow must admit, that there is nothing quite like it. And the way the light illuminates it at night, makes it seem as if there are two of the Main Squares, one during the day, and one when the sun sets.
Entertainment
Apart from being a casual meeting point, the Square is also a place of many events. First of all, there are almost always performing artists playing guitars, saxophones or breakdancing on the square. There are also many flash mobs taking place here.
A truly unique event in Krakow is the New Year’s Eve. That’s when a large scene is set up by the Cloth Hall and thousands of people gather to listen to their favourite artists and watch a firework display when the clock strikes midnight.
Apart from those happenings, there are also many big events taking place there. Concerts and exhibitions take place all through the year. What truly lights up the atmosphere, though, are the holiday fairs. During Easter and Christmas small huts can be seen all around the place, with dozens of typical foods, drinks and souvenirs at a display.
Book Tours and Purchase Tickets
Location
We hope you enjoyed this guide to Market square.
The Main Square of Krakow truly is extraordinary. No matter how many times you wander around it, whether during the day or night, it will never cease to amaze you. We know, we can’t get enough of it.
Feel free to leave comments below or to ask us any questions.
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