Churches and Architectural Gems in Krakow

Krakow is known as the cultural center of Poland. While its northern neighbor, Warsaw, is larger and holds the title of the nation’s capital, Krakow bursts with creativity, history, and culture. One of the most impressive aspects of Krakow’s cultural offerings is the multitude of churches and architectural pearls scattered throughout the town.

To start, Bazylika Mariacka, or St. Mary’s Basilica, in the famous Rynek Główny square at the heart of Old Town, boasts not only beautiful architecture, but also incredible history. This baroque-style church was built in the 15th century, and features unique engraved wooden panels above the altar, that are open and shut daily. The architecture of the cathedral is also a Gothic style, and the decor includes many angels inside the church as well as maszkaron devils outside of the church. This is a particularly unique feature of Krakowian architecture, parallelled on many of the other churches and landmarks throughout the city. St. Mary’s also plays host to an enduring Krakowian tradition of a live trumpet performance at the top of every hour of the day. The trumpeter waves out the open window to the passing crowds who gather to hear the performance, which is broadcast on public radio.

Rynek Glowny, the central square in Old Town, also includes a large permanent marketplace that still sells goods today, and a clock tower that is the only remaining piece of the 14th century-era town hall.

Hidden beneath this fantastic facade lies the Historical Museum of Kraków (Podziemia Rynku - Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa), which houses an impressive display of excavated ruins, ancient cobblestone roads, and artifacts from medieval Krakow society, combined with high-tech interactive elements.

A bit further from Old Town lies the famous Wawel Castle. Constructed in 1320, making it almost 700 years old, the cathedral and castle are set up high on a hill overlooking the city. The cathedral is spectacularly rich with history, including housing the tombs of ancient Polish kings, showcasing “dragon” bones at the entrance, and hosting centuries of coronations of Polish royalty. The castle grounds include a famous “dragon’s den”, wherein tourists can walk down a winding spiral staircase to the damp and dark caves below, and emerge just in time to see a dragon statue breathe fire. Finally, the Wawel Castle was built in the 1500s and features a grand courtyard in the Italian style, complete with dragon-shaped water drains and two-story, open-air hallways. It also features a world-famous Chakra energy source found in the stone walls.

Krakow is home to many important pieces of Polish architecture, including churches and other historic landmarks. From time-honored traditions to hidden gems and mythical dragons, it is a place that draws upon its long history to tell stories that are passed down to the next generation, in order to support the culture of this incredible city.