Krakow – also written Cracow, was the former capital city of Poland and has over 1000 years of history! After repeated Mongolian attacks, Krakow was rebuilt in 1257 with streets laid out in a grid pattern. Today Krakow is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities because it amazinglyescaped destruction in World War II and the subsequent Soviet occupation.
Krakow, Poland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You know, that list, of more than 1000 of the most special preserved places in the world. When that list was first crafted in 1978 it only had 12 sites!
Two of the original 12 sites are in Poland: Krakow’s Old Town and the nearby Wieliczka Salt Mines.
A view of the Barbican from outside the city. Originally there were eight entrance gates into the city.
Today, the city of Krakow is encircled by The Planty, a shady green park where the original city walls once stood.
The Barbican was built at the end of the 15th century and is one of the only surviving structures of its kind in Europe. After passing through the turret-topped fortress, one crossed a drawbridge over the moat and entered the Florianska Gate.The Florianska Gate. This section of the Florianska Gate towers and wall is all that remains from the original 1307 wall.Krakow’s RynekGłowny (Market Square) is Europe’s largest medieval market square measuring 200 meters x 200 meters (656 feet x 656 feet).One side of the large market square.Krakow’s Market Square.The iconic Cloth Hall in the center of the square was the main commercial center and today is the location of souvenir stalls. An underground museum below the square is immensely popular.After a Mongol attack left St. Mary’s Church in ruins it was rebuilt and consecrated in 1320. St. Mary’s Basilica has two 15th-century towers. They are unusual because they are not a “matched pair.” The taller one was used as a watch tower with a town crier – or in Krakow, a bugler watching and warning for fire and invasions. The Heynal – the city’s famous bugle call – is played 4 times – once in each direction of the compass – every hour on the hour – day and night – every day of the year.
Ever since my children and I read The Trumpeter of Krakow I’ve wanted to visit Krakow and hear The Heynal played from the tower as it has been played for hundreds of years – ending in mid-melody.
Why is it played this way? (It’s debatable whether the story is historical or fictional. ) One night in 1241, the watchman spotted invaders and was sounding the alarm in order to arouse the slumbering city when an arrow pierced his neck abruptly suspending the tune.
Listen to The Heynal.
I read that The Heynal is broadcast over the radio all over Poland every day at noon!
The 230-foot-tall clock tower at one end of the market square is all that remains of the 14th-century Town Hall.Krakow’s oldest church, St. Adalbert’s, dates to the 11th-century – surviving Mongolian invasions, it predates the square! It’s a mix of pre-Roman, Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Its floor sits 6.5 feet lower than the surrounding square.Protesting the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Słowacki Theatre completed in 1893, its Baroque design modeled after the Paris Opera.Didn’t expect to see such beautiful architecture in Poland.Immediately south of the city, Wawel Hill is the crown jewel of Krakow.
Wawel Hill has been inhabited since Paleolithic times and is the site of the Royal Castle whose beginnings date back to the 11th century and the Gothic Cathedral of St. Wenceslas – a “mish-mash” of fortifications and additions dating back to the 14th-century.
The Castle.Krakow is beautiful at every turn.This castle comes with a fire-breathing dragon.The Vistula River at the base of Wawel Hill.We toured with Rudolf of City Walks Krakow, a tip-only walking tour. He gave us some of the highs and lows of Poland’s 1000-year-history.
There is much more to Krakow than the Old Town and Wawel Hill. Meet You in the Morning with more from Krakow’s other districts.
Meet You In The Morning 
Beautiful city. Merrill such a cute picture of you with the lady in traditional dress.
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Thanks Becky.
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