Are you looking to explore the history of Krakow through the ages? There are a number of historical destinations in Krakow including the time-honored buildings, monuments, palaces, and parks where you can learn about the glorious past of Krakow. The presence of these historical sites and museums will take you on a walk through Krakow ‘s rich history.
If you are willing to have an in-depth historical information about Krakow, we recommend that you take a wonderful guided tour to cover the major historical attractions. Also, check the opening and closing time for each so that you can organize your time. Make sure that you go through the complete list of historical places in Krakow for a great trip!
Top Historical Places in Krakow
Let's witness the history of Krakow with these top historical places - monuments and landmarks:
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Pomnik Grunwaldzki
(67 Votes)
Poland and Lithuania fought a mighty and famous against the Teutonic Knights in 1410. 500 years later that event was commemorated by the unveiling of this great monument by Antoni Wiwulski. The most prominent figures on the monument are the Polish King Wladyslaw Jagiello and the Lithuanian prince Vytautas. Leader of the Teutons, Urlich von Jungingen, is also seen there, lying fallen below ...Read more -
Tauron Arena
(29 Votes)
This indoor arena has been used for a variety of sporting events. These include badminton, boxing, curling, acrobatics, football, basketball, figure skating, martial arts, table tennis, tennis and athletics. But it has also been used for League of Legends and Counter-Strike competitions. Sometimes there are concerts. The arena is a new one and it was only opened in May 2014. It cost 106 million...Read more -
St. Florian's Church
(11 Votes)
St. Florian is Poland's patron saint of firefighters and chimney sweeps. Interestingly, the saint has no real historical role in Poland. The city needed a patron saint and that's why the relics of the saint were brought here. According to legend, the oxen that were transporting the saint’s relics stopped the right outside where this church now stands and would move no further. This church...Read more -
In the forests of Wolski, the Przegorzaly Castle is one of the main stops for hikers and cyclists. It’s not an especially old place; it was built by the Germans during WWII. Today the premises of the castle are used by a restaurant the also offers a catering service. It also housed the Przegorzaly Institute of European Studies and the Center for Holocaust Studies. Visitors are usually aft...Read more -
St. Barbara's Church
(6 Votes)
Overshadowed by the St. Mary’s Basilica, which was the house of prayer for rich Germans, this smaller 14th century church is probably closer to the hearts of the people of Krakow, as this is where the Poles prayed. Plain looking on the outside, it is surprisingly charming and intimate on the inside. Of interest are two Gothic sculptures. One is a 15th century depiction of Christ and the A...Read more -
Wawel Royal Castle
(3278 Votes)
A conspiracy theorist will no doubt wonder if there is something supernatural that attracts humans to Wawel. Archaeologists have shown the first human settlements on Wawel hill to be more than 50,000 years old. Now, there are other such sites scattered across the world, but Wawel is in the minority to have a castle built on it and become a centre of power. During medieval times, from the 11th t...Read more -
St Marys Basilica
(3185 Votes)
Originally built in the 13th century, the imposing structure that stands opposite the main market square was completed in 1347. Built in the brick Gothic style it has now become a template for Polish style churches all over the world. The brooding exterior, with two towers, the taller at 80 metres built in the classic Gothic spiral, is contrasted by an opulent and rich interior. Of note is the ...Read more -
Krakow Old Town
(3166 Votes)
The city of Krakow is a metropolis with over a million residents today. During medieval times Krakow was the capital of Poland, a burgeoning economy and a strong state, with befitting architecture; a walled city, 46 towers on the wall guarding it and only seven main entrances. The medieval town it protected was and still is one of the most beautiful locales in the world. It was made, in its ent...Read more -
Open only during the summer, this artillery tower was one of two that rose on the south side of the castle complex. It was erected as the defences on that side were thought to be weak. Despite its military purpose, the tower does possess some artistic flair. The entrance is prettily carved, for one thing. The chimney shows that it was used as a lodging too, perhaps as a prison for nobility. Thi...Read more -
Auschwitz-birkenau State Museum
(1954 Votes)
Words cannot begin to describe the horror that took place in this camp. The Museum encompasses the entire Auschwitz concentration camp and its surrounding buildings. It is estimated that over 1.1 million people were killed here, a majority of them Jews. The camp has come to symbolize the Nazi atrocities against the Jewish people. The museum today educates visitors and researches the Holocaust. -
The two storey Szolayski family house was built in the 17th century and was expanded over the next few centuries. In the 2000s this was the location of the Stanislaw Wyspianski Muzeum. Now, though the name has changed, the original collection remains here. Wyspianski’s personal artefacts, sketches, last self-portrait and other artworks are in exhibit. See the reconstructed meeting room of...Read more -
This is Emalia, immortalised in Steven Spielberg’s movie Schindler’s List, the enamel vessels factory where Oskar Schindler first began employing Jews as they were an inexpensive labour force. Schindler would go on to save over a thousand Jews from the concentration camps by first employing them here and then later building a munitions factory in his hometown. It was during his stay...Read more -
Wieliczka Salt Mine
(2078 Votes)
Usually from a cultural and artistic standpoint all a mine does is to provide the materials for something else. The Wieliczka Salt Mine goes beyond that. Begun in the 13th century AD, the mine was active till 2007 and at that time it was one of the world’s oldest operating mines. Over the course of time it was also extensively mined for salt, and it is over 287 kilometres long. Its long o...Read more -
Jewish District
(3008 Votes)
Jews have been treated differently in Christian countries for centuries, their politics and living regulated. A notable example of this is Venice’s Jewish Ghetto. This, the Kazimierz, is the other notable example. Not only because it is a Jewish district, but it is one of the few that survived the Second World War though with heavy damages. Due to interest stemming from Spielberg’s ...Read more -
This small Baroque Palace on the Main Market Square of Krakow's Old Town was constructed in 1649. Today it houses the main branch of the Historical Museum of Krakow. It’s permanent exhibit - ‘Cyberteka. Krakow − time and space’ - is a new one! It’s a lovely recreation of the development and growth of Krakow over history. This fact alone means this should be one of ...Read more