Montelupich Prison, State prison in central Kraków, Poland.
Montelupich Prison is a detention complex in central Kraków with multiple cell blocks arranged around a central courtyard, surrounded by guard towers and tall security walls. The facility currently operates as a temporary detention center for both male and female inmates.
The Gestapo operated this facility from 1940 to 1944 as a processing center for thousands of prisoners destined for concentration camps. It became a key location in the suppression of Polish society during the Nazi occupation.
During the Nazi occupation, this prison held thousands of resistance fighters and Polish intellectuals who opposed the regime. Today it serves as a place where visitors can understand the courage of those who resisted during that dark period.
This is an active correctional facility, so visitors cannot freely enter; guided tours are the only way to access the grounds. Check in advance about available visiting hours and access conditions, as these may vary depending on facility operations.
The last execution by hanging in Poland occurred here on April 21, 1988, marking when capital punishment ended in the country. This event made Montelupich a symbolic turning point in the nation's approach to criminal justice.
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