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From 1300
Barbican and Florian Gate
A mighty barbican and medieval gate — royal processions entered the city here for coronation. The start of the Royal Route.
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City of the Kings
Capital of Polish kings
City of the Kings
Six centuries of history in the heart of Krakow — from the city's founding, through coronations at Wawel, to the golden age of the Jagiellons. Discover royal Krakow, street by street.
- 1257city charter
- 1320first coronation at Wawel
- 1364Krakow Academy
- 1500golden age of Krakow
- 1596capital moved to Warsaw
Why the City of the Kings
Six centuries at one address
For centuries Krakow was the capital of Poland and the place where kings were crowned. The same cobbled streets, townhouses and view of Wawel form the city's living, everyday scenery today.
1038Krakow becomes Poland's capital
11centuries of the city's history
UNESCOOld Town on the World Heritage list
Where history was written
The kings who shaped Krakow
Five centuries of coronations at Wawel — the rulers whose traces are still visible in the city's streets. Click a portrait to enlarge it.
A walk for our guests
Walk the Royal Route
Nine stops from the Barbican to Wawel and Kazimierz. Click a stop — see its history and count the apartments right next to it.
Attractions
Apartments
2
13th–16th c.
Main Square and Cloth Hall
Europe's largest medieval square. Trade flourished in the Cloth Hall, and in 1525 the Prussian Homage took place here, immortalised by Matejko.
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3
From 1347
St. Mary's Basilica
A Gothic basilica with the altarpiece of Veit Stoss and the bugle call played every hour from the tower, cut off mid-note.
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4
From 1364
Collegium Maius
The oldest building of the Krakow Academy — one of Europe's oldest universities. Nicolaus Copernicus studied here.
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5
Royal road
Grodzka and Kanonicza Streets
The city's most representative route — the cobbled road of processions leading from the Square straight towards Wawel.
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6
From 1597
Saints Peter and Paul Church
Krakow's first Baroque church, with figures of the twelve apostles and the famous Foucault pendulum.
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7
From 11th c.
Wawel — Castle and Cathedral
The heart of royal Poland: the castle, the coronation cathedral and the royal necropolis. Kings were crowned and buried here.
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8
Legend
Dragon's Den and the Boulevards
The cave of the legendary Wawel dragon at the foot of the hill, and the riverside boulevards along the Vistula.
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9
From 1335
Kazimierz
Once King Casimir's separate town, today an atmospheric Jewish district full of cafes, art and history.
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Stay in the heart of history
Stay in the City of the Kings
Apartments within reach of Wawel and the Main Square — check available dates.
