Kraków Old Town, Medieval historic district in Krakow, Poland.
Kraków Old Town is a medieval historic district in Kraków, Poland, featuring numerous Gothic buildings, Renaissance structures, and Baroque churches surrounding Europe's largest medieval town square, Rynek Główny. The area spreads across several city blocks with narrow streets, courtyards, and passages where merchants and craftspeople once conducted their trades from small shops and stalls.
The district served as Poland's political center from 1038 until 1596, when King Sigismund III Vasa moved the royal court to Warsaw. It continued to thrive as a trading and cultural hub, with significant growth during the 13th century under the reign of Casimir the Great.
The Royal Road connects visitors to centuries of Polish heritage, beginning at St. Florian's Church and passing through the Florian Gate toward Wawel Castle. The narrow streets show how merchants and craftspeople once organized their daily activities in this compact medieval hub.
The central location connects to multiple tram and bus lines, making it easy to reach by public transport. The pedestrian-friendly streets allow you to explore on foot at a comfortable pace, with plenty of small passages and courtyards to discover throughout your walk.
Beneath the main square lies Rynek Underground, displaying archaeological discoveries through exhibits of medieval merchant stalls and artifacts from different eras. The subterranean spaces reveal layers of city life that accumulated over centuries of occupation.
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