Hetmańska House in Kraków, Gothic townhouse at Rynek Główny 17, Kraków, Poland
Hetmańska House is a Gothic townhouse at Rynek Główny 17 in Kraków featuring a vaulted hall with crossed ribs and decorated keystones. Animal sculptures and heraldic carvings from the medieval period adorn the interior spaces throughout the structure.
The building was constructed in the 14th century during Casimir the Great's reign and initially served as a ruler's residence. By the 18th century it had become the property of the Branicki family, one of Poland's leading noble houses.
The Gothic hall displays stone decorations showing the lands and heraldic symbols of medieval Poland through its arches and keystones. Visitors can study these carved emblems to understand the power structures and territorial claims of that era.
The ground floor now contains a restaurant where visitors can see the medieval vaults while dining or having a drink. Access to the hall is through the restaurant space, so viewing the architecture works best as part of a dining visit.
The building takes its name from the family that once lived here and filled the rooms with heraldic symbols of their power and territory. This connection to the nobility gives the space a personal dimension beyond its architectural style.
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