Main Square, Krakow

Main Square, Krakow

Rynek Główny, the Main Square of Krakow, is the historic heart of the city laid out in the 13thcentury at the time of Krakow's charter.

Rynek Główny, the Main Square of Krakow, is the historic heart of the city laid out in the 13thcentury at the time of Krakow's charter. It is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe, sprawling over 40,000 m².

At the centre is the Sukiennice or Cloth Hall, or Sukiennice, a Renaissance style building that was once a cloth trade centre, but now houses the Gallery of the National Museum, Rynek Underground Museum, and souvenir stalls and cafes. The square is surrounded by several historic townhouses (kamienice), palaces and churches –

• Wieża ratuszowa or Town Hall Tower is home to the Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa (Historical Museum of Kraków) showcasing photographs of the Market Square Exhibition.
• Church of St. Adalbert (also Church of St. Wojciech) dates back to the 11thcentury and is one of the oldest churches in the city.
• Monument to Adam Mickiewicz, Polish romantic poet who penned Pan Tadeusz.
• Kościół Mariacki or St. Mary's Basilica is a 14thcentury brick Gothic church noted for its 2 soaring towers, and grand interiors which feature Veit Stoss’ altarpiece. A highlight is the hourly trumpet signal, Hejnał mariacki that is played from the top of the taller tower. The tune cuts off midway to commemorate the 13th century trumpeter who was shot in the throat while playing the alarm to warn citizens of the Tartar attack on Krakow.
• Pałac Zbaraskich (Zbaraski Palace) from the 15thcentury houses the Goethe Institute.
• Międzynarodowe Centrum Kultury (International Cultural Centre) is an institution for the promotion of culture housed in Pod Kruki.
• Muzeum Kata Kacianora showcases medieval instruments of torture.
• Muzeum Figur Woskowych is the Polonia Wax Museum, showcasing life size figures of celebrities.
• Kamienica Bonerowska is a historical building from the 13thcentury named after banker Seweryna Bonera who lived here in the 15thcentury. It has been renovated several times over the centuries variously in Gothic, Renaissance, Mannerist and Rococo styles.