Hanseatic city of Cracow

Cracow

Cracow is the former capital of Poland, the historical seat of kings, a treasury of Polish heritage inscribed on the first UNESCO list, with pearls of Renaissance architecture, and today a dynamically developing metropolis, a thriving centre of science and culture, a city of international festivals and congresses and increasingly innovative and creative initiatives.

The first documented reference to Cracow is an account by the Arab merchant Ibrahim ibn Jacob from 965, in which he mentions a rich town surrounded by forests, situated at the crossroads of trade routes. In the 15th and 16th centuries, during the Jagiellonian era, Cracow was the capital of one of the most influential and extensive European states, the Republic of Poland, stretching from the Baltic Sea almost to the Black Sea.

Cracow still attracts visitors with its legend, the authenticity of architecture representing all styles and periods, unique museum collections of world renown, and the title of European Capital of Culture and European Capital of Gastronomy. Visit Cracow and learn about the fascinating history of our city, where the intermingling of different nationalities living here over the centuries has shaped its unique face and extraordinary cultural heritage.

Facts & Figures

Founded

Year 800

Location

50.06194 latitude and 19.93685 longitude

Population

779966

UNESCO World Heritage

OLD TOWN, WAWEL – KAZIMIERZ (1978)

Cracovian nativity scene construction (2018) – a representative list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity)

What is the city known for?

Obwarzanek: One of the symbols of Cracow, sprinkled with poppy seeds, salt, sesame and other sprinkles, has been a favourite snack baked in Cracow since the 14th century. Since 2017, Żywe Muzeum Obwarzanka (the Obwarzanek Living Museum) has been operating at Rynek Kleparski, presenting its history, baking technology and offering workshops on how to make your own obwarzanek.

Sukiennice (the Cloth Hall): Medieval "shopping arcade", now in Renaissance style with Gothic elements, rebuilt many times. It is one of the most recognisable examples of Polish architecture - with stalls selling jewellery and artistic handicrafts on the ground floor, the Gallery of Polish Painting and Sculpture of the 19th century on the first floor, and the Underground Museum showing the extraordinary world of medieval Cracow.