Szara House in Kraków, Medieval townhouse at Market Square, Kraków, Poland.
Szara House is a medieval townhouse at Market Square in Kraków with a neo-Romanesque facade featuring tall pilasters, a decorative attic, and a baroque portal designed by the Castellic brothers. Today the building contains offices, residential apartments, upscale shops, an art gallery, and a Michelin-starred restaurant that opened in 2019.
The structure was built in the 13th century from two merged plots and gained importance when King Henryk Walezy stayed there in 1574. Later it became the site of significant historical events that shaped Kraków.
The interior displays Gothic ribbed vaults and Renaissance wooden coffered ceilings with painted decorations created by artist Józef Mehoffer. These ornamental elements reflect the artistic movements that shaped the building across different eras.
The building is easy to visit since it sits in a central location and remains accessible during the day for those wanting to explore the shops and gallery. The restaurant is popular and often reserved, so checking ahead is advisable if you plan to dine there.
The house played a role in critical moments of the city and is marked with plaques commemorating historical events including an uprising in 1794 and political changes around 1846. These markers tell stories of resistance and transformation that visitors often miss when walking past.
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