Kraków

Kraków
Mary Basilica and Mickiewicz Monument Wawel Cath. St. Peter and Paul Chur. Wawel Castle Floriańska Street Cloth Hall at Main Square
KRK)
Website	www.krakow.pl
Europe

Kraków

The city began as a

Kraków's

In 1335, King

The city continued to grow under the

View of Kraków (Cracovia) near the end of the 16th century

Already weakened during the 18th century, by the mid-1790s the

Following Napoleon's defeat, the 1815

At the outbreak of World War I on 3 August 1914, Józef Piłsudski formed a small cadre military unit, the First Cadre Company—the predecessor of the Polish Legions—which set out from Kraków to fight for the liberation of Poland.^[71] The city was briefly besieged by Russian troops in November 1914.^[72] Austrian rule in Kraków ended in 1918 when the Polish Liquidation Committee assumed power.^[73][74]

Following the emergence of the

After the war, under the

Due to its geographic location, the city may be under marine influence, sometimes Arctic influence, but without direct influence, giving the city variable meteorological conditions over short spaces of time.^[109][110] The city lies in proximity to the Tatra Mountains and there are often occurrences of a foehn wind called halny, causing temperatures to rise rapidly.^[111] In relation to Warsaw, temperatures are very similar for most of the year, except that in the colder months southern Poland has a larger daily temperature range, more moderate winds, generally more rainy days and with greater chances of clear skies on average, especially in winter. The higher sun angle also allows for a longer growing season.^[112] In addition, for older data there was less sun than the capital of the country, about 30 minutes daily per year, but both have small differences in relative humidity and the direction of the winds is northeast.^[104]

The climate table below presents weather data with averages from 1991 to 2020, sunshine ranges from 1971 to 2000, and valid extremes from 1951 to the present day:

Kraków provides a showcase setting for many historic forms of architecture developed over the ten centuries, especially Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles.^[126] Renowned artisans and skilled craftsmen from present-day Italy and Germany were brought and sponsored by kings or nobles who contributed to architectural wealth and diversity.^[126] The Brick Gothic manner as well as countless structural elements such as the Renaissance attics with decorative pinnacles became recognisable features of historical buildings in Kraków.^[26] Built from its earliest nucleus outward, the city's monuments can be seen in historical order by walking from the city centre out, towards its newer districts.^[126]

Kraków's historic centre, which includes

In addition to the old town, the city's district of Kazimierz is particularly notable for its many renaissance buildings and picturesque streets, as well as the historic Jewish quarter located in the north-eastern part of Kazimierz. Kazimierz was founded in the 14th century to the south-east of the city centre and soon became a wealthy, well-populated area where construction of imposing properties became commonplace. Perhaps the most important feature of medieval Kazimierz was the only major, permanent bridge (Pons Regalis) across the northern arm of the Vistula. This natural barrier used to separate Kazimierz from the Old Town for several centuries, while the bridge connected Kraków to the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the lucrative Hungarian trade route. The last structure at this location (at the end of modern Stradom Street) was dismantled in 1880 when the northern arm of the river was filled in with earth and rock, and subsequently built over.^[41][130]

By the 1930s, Kraków had 120 officially registered synagogues and prayer houses that spanned across the old city. Much of Jewish intellectual life had moved to new centres like Podgórze.^[131] This, in turn, led to the redevelopment and renovation of much of Kazimierz and the development of new districts in Kraków. Most historic buildings in central Kazimierz today are preserved in their original form. Some old buildings, however, were not repaired after the devastation brought by the Second World War, and have remained empty. Most recent efforts at restoring the historic neighborhoods gained new impetus around 1993. Kazimierz is now a well-visited area, seeing a booming growth in Jewish-themed restaurants, bars, bookstores and souvenir shops.^[132]

As the city of Kraków began to expand further under the rule of the

With Poland's regained independence came the major change in the fortunes of Kraków—now the second most important city of a sovereign nation. The state began to make new plans for the city development and commissioned a number of representative buildings. The predominant style for new projects was modernism with various interpretations of the art-deco style.

After the Second World War, new Communist government adopted Stalinist monumentalism. The doctrine of Socialist realism in Poland, as in other countries of the Eastern Bloc, was enforced from 1949 to 1956. It involved all domains of art, but its most spectacular achievements were made in the field of urban design. The guidelines for this new trend were spelled-out in a 1949 resolution of the National Council of Party Architects. Architecture was to become a weapon in establishing the new social order by the communists.^[137] The ideological impact of urban design was valued more than aesthetics. It aimed at expressing persistence and power. This form of architecture was implemented in the new industrial district of Nowa Huta with apartment blocks constructed according to a Stalinist blueprint, with repetitious courtyards and wide, tree-lined avenues.^[138]

Since the style of the

There are about 40 parks in Kraków, including dozens of gardens and forests.

The best-known park in Kraków is the Planty Park. Established between 1822 and 1830 in place of the old city walls, it forms a green belt around the Old Town and consists of a chain of smaller gardens designed in various styles and adorned with monuments. The park has an area of 21 hectares (52 acres) and a length of 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), forming a scenic walkway popular with Cracovians.^[145]

Jordan Park, founded in 1889 by

Kraków and its environment, surrounded by mountains, suffer from Europe's dirtiest air pollution because of smog, caused by burning coal for heating, especially in winter.^[153]

The

Responsibilities of Kraków's president include drafting and implementing resolutions, enacting city bylaws, managing the city budget, employing city administrators, and preparing against floods and

Kraków is divided into 18 administrative districts (dzielnica) or boroughs, each with a degree of autonomy within its own municipal government.^[161] Prior to March 1991, the city had been divided into four quarters which still give a sense of identity to Kraków: the towns of Podgórze, Nowa Huta and Krowodrza, which were amalgamated into the city as it expanded; and the ancient town centre of Kraków itself.^[161]

The oldest neighborhoods of Kraków were incorporated into the city before the late 18th century. These include the Old Town (

.

Major districts added in the 19th and 20th centuries include Podgórze—until 1915, a separate town on the southern bank of the Vistula—and Nowa Huta, to the east of the city centre, which was built after World War II.

Among the most notable historic districts of the city are: Wawel Hill, home to

Main Market Square; dozens of old churches and museums; the 14th-century buildings of the Jagiellonian University; and Kazimierz, the historical centre of Kraków's Jewish social and religious life.^[163]

The Old Town district of Kraków is home to about six thousand historic sites and more than two million works of art.^[164] Its rich variety of heritage architecture includes Romanesque (e.g. St. Andrew's Church), Renaissance (e.g. Kraków Cloth Hall), Baroque (e.g. Saints Peter and Paul Church) and Gothic buildings. Kraków's palaces, churches, theatres and mansions display a great variety of color, architectural details, stained glass, paintings, sculptures, and furnishings.^[165]

In the Market Square stands the Gothic

Newbery Award.^[168]

District	Population	Area (2009)[169]
Stare Miasto (I)	41,121	559.29 ha (5.5929 km2)
Grzegórzki (II)	30,441	586.18 ha (5.8618 km2)
Prądnik Czerwony (III)	46,621	638.82 ha (6.3882 km2)
Prądnik Biały (IV)	66,649	2,370.55 ha (23.7055 km2)
Krowodrza (V)	34,467	538.32 ha (5.3832 km2)
Bronowice (VI)	22,467	957.98 ha (9.5798 km2)
Zwierzyniec (VII)	20,243	2,866.9 ha (28.669 km2)
Dębniki (VIII)	56,258	4,671.11 ha (46.7111 km2)
Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki (IX)	15,014	573.9 ha (5.739 km2)
Swoszowice (X)	20,641	2,416.73 ha (24.1673 km2)
Podgórze Duchackie (XI)	52,522	1,065.24 ha (10.6524 km2)
Bieżanów-Prokocim (XII)	63,270	1,846.93 ha (18.4693 km2)
Podgórze (XIII)	32,050	2,516.07 ha (25.1607 km2)
Czyżyny (XIV)	26,169	1,229.44 ha (12.2944 km2)
Mistrzejowice (XV)	54,276	547.82 ha (5.4782 km2)
Bieńczyce (XVI)	44,237	369.43 ha (3.6943 km2)
Wzgórza Krzesławickie (XVII)	20,234	2,375.82 ha (23.7582 km2)
Nowa Huta (XVIII)	58,320	6,552.52 ha (65.5252 km2)
Total	760,700	32,680.00 ha (326.8000 km2)

The current divisions were introduced by the Kraków City Hall on 19 April 1995. The districts were each assigned a

Zwierzyniec (VII), Dębniki (VIII), Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki (IX), Swoszowice (X), Podgórze Duchackie (XI), Bieżanów-Prokocim (XII), Podgórze (XIII), Czyżyny (XIV), Mistrzejowice (XV), Bieńczyce (XVI), Wzgórza Krzesławickie (XVII), and Nowa Huta

(XVIII).

Map of districts of the City of Kraków

IV

VI

VII

V

I

II

IX

III

XVII

X

VIII

XI

XII

XIII

XIV

XVIII

XV

XVI

Vistula (Wisła)

Interactive map. For more information, click on district number.

Economy

Kraków is one of Poland's most important economic centres and the economic hub of the

Sabre Holdings,^[174] along with other British, German and Scandinavian-based firms.^[171][175] The city is also the global headquarters for Comarch, an enterprise software house. Kraków is the second most-visited city in Poland (after Warsaw).^[171][172] According to the World Investment Report 2011 by the UN Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Kraków is also the most emergent city location for investment in global BPO projects (Business Process Outsourcing) in the world.^[176]

In 2011, the

amenities, 30% in transfers from the national budget, and 34% in state subsidies. Projected expenditures, totaling 3,520,000,000 złoty, included 21% in city development costs and 79% in city maintenance costs. Of the maintenance costs, as much as 39% were spent on education and childcare. The City of Kraków's development costs included; 41% toward construction of roads, transport, and communication (combined), and 25% for the city's infrastructure and environment.^[178] The city has a high bond credit rating, and some 60% of the population is under the age of 45.^[172]

Unity Tower was completed in 2020 after almost 30 years, creating a new business and residential centre. It is the second-tallest building in the city after K1.^[179]

Knowledge and innovation community

Kraków is one of the co-location centres of Knowledge and Innovation Community (Sustainable Energy) of The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).^[180]

InnoEnergy is an integrated alliance of reputable organisations from the education, research and industry sectors. It was created based on long standing links of cooperation as well as the principles of excellence. The partners have jointly developed a strategy to tackle the weaknesses of the European innovation landscape in the field of sustainable energy.^[181]

Transport

Main article: Transport in Kraków

Public transport is based on a fairly dense network of tram and bus routes operated by a municipal company, supplemented by a number of private minibus operators. There is no

Museum of Municipal Engineering in the Kazimierz district, with many old trams, cars and buses.^[185]

Main Railway Station

Railway connections are available to most Polish cities, e.g. Katowice, Częstochowa, Szczecin, Gdynia and Warsaw. International destinations include Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Hamburg, Lviv, Kyiv, and Odesa (June–September).^[186] The main railway station is located just outside the Old Town District and is well-served by public transport.^[187]

Kraków's airport, officially named

Katowice International Airport is located 80 kilometres (50 miles) or about 75 minutes from Kraków.^[189]

In Autumn 2016 Poland's oldest Bicycle-sharing system was modernized and now offers 1,500 bikes at 169 stations under the name of Wavelo (pl), which is owned by BikeU of the French multinational company Egis.^[190]

Demographics

See also: Urban demographics of Poland

Kraków had a recorded population of 774,839 in 2019, which increased to 804,237 in 2023.^[1] Selected demographic indicators are presented in a table (below), compiled on the basis of only the population living in Kraków permanently. The larger metropolitan area of the city encompasses a territory in which (in 2010) 1,393,893 inhabitants live.^[191]

Already in the Middle Ages, the population of Kraków consisting of numerous ethnic groups, began to grow rapidly.^[192] It doubled between 1100 and 1300 from 5,000 to 10,000, and in 1400 counted 14,000 inhabitants. By 1550, the population of metropolitan Kraków was 18,000; although it decreased to 15,000 in the next fifty years due to calamity.^[193][194] By the early 17th century the Kraków population had reached 28,000 inhabitants.^[195]

In the historical 1931 census preceding World War II, 78.1% of Cracovians declared Polish as their primary language, with Yiddish or Hebrew at 20.9%, Ukrainian 0.4%, German 0.3%, and Russian 0.1%.

ethnic minorities

living in Kraków.

In the last two decades, Kraków has seen a large growth of immigrant population. In the 2002 census, only 0.25% of respondents living in the city declared a non-Polish nationality primarily Ukrainian and Russian.^[197] As of 2019, it was estimated that foreigners accounted for as much as 10% of the city's population, with Ukrainians being the most numerous group (between 11,000 and 50,000).^[198]

Foreign residents (2023)^[199]

Nationality	Population
Ukraine	45,100
Belarus	5,975
Georgia	3,640
India	2,636
Russia	2,221
Italy	1,512

Population growth in Kraków since 1791

Religion

Main articles: Churches of Kraków and Synagogues of Kraków

Religion in Krakow (2021)^[200]

1. Catholicism
   (58%)
2. Protestantism (0.5%)
3. Other Christian (0.2%)
4. Other (0.01%)
5. Irreligion
   (14%)
6. Undeclared (27%)

The metropolitan city of Kraków is known as the

Archdiocese of Kraków was 49.9 percent, above the national Polish average of 38.3 percent.^[204]

Kraków contains also an outstanding collection of monuments of Jewish

Nazi German invasion of Poland, serving its burgeoning Jewish community of 60,000–80,000 (out of the city's total population of 237,000), established since the early 12th century.^[205]

Most synagogues of Kraków were ruined during World War II by the

Holocaust Jewish population of the city had dwindled to about 5,900 before the end of the 1940s. Poland was the only Eastern Bloc country to allow free Jewish aliyah (emigration to Israel) without visas or exit permits upon the conclusion of World War II.^[206] In recent time, thanks to efforts of the local Jewish and Polish organisations including foreign financial aid from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, many synagogues underwent major restorations and serve religious and tourist purposes.^[207]

Education

Main article:

Education in Kraków

Kraków is a major centre of education. Twenty-four institutions of higher education offer courses in the city, with more than 200,000 students.

King John III Sobieski, Pope John Paul II and Nobel laureates Ivo Andrić and Wisława Szymborska.^[214]

AGH University of Science and Technology, established in 1919, is the largest

Scientific societies and their branches in Kraków conduct scientific and educational work in local and countrywide scale. The Academy of Learning, Association of Law Students' Library of the Jagiellonian University, Polish Copernicus Society of Naturalists and the Polish Section of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers all have their main seats in Kraków.

Kraków was named the official

As of 2023[update], Kraków hosts approximately 82 museums and various museum branches; the city also has a number of art collections and public art galleries.^[226] The National Museum, established in 1879, as well as the National Art Collection on Wawel Hill, are all accessible to the general public.^[226]

The Royal Chambers at Wawel feature art, period furniture, Polish and European paintings, collectibles, and a major collection of 16th-century monumental

Other notable museums in Kraków include the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology (at M. Konopnickiej 26),^[228] Stanisław Wyspiański Museum (at 11 Szczepanska St),^[228] Jan Matejko Manor House in Krzesławice,^[67] the Emeryk Hutten-Czapski Museum, devoted to the master painter and his life,^[229] and Józef Mehoffer Manor.^[228]

The Rynek Underground museum, situated under the city's main square, showcases Kraków's more than 1,000-year history through its streets, activities and artifacts. The construction of the museum was preceded by extensive excavations starting in 2005,^[230] and continuing eventually until 2010, as more and more physical evidence was uncovered.

Krakil, the Museum of illusions, is a space where illusions are combined with scientific inventions and the arts. Physics and optics are displayed together with artworks and classical riddles.^[231]

The Polish Aviation Museum, considered one of the world's best aviation museums by CNN,^[232] features over 200 aircraft including a Sopwith Camel among other First World War biplanes, a comprehensive display of aero engines, and a complete collection of airplane types developed by Poland after 1945.^[233] Activities of smaller museums around Kraków and in the Lesser Poland region are promoted and supported by the Małopolska Institute of Culture, which organises annual Małopolska Heritage Days.^[234]

The city has several famous theatres, including the Narodowy Stary Teatr (the

Opera Krakowska^[240] one of the leading national opera companies, stages 200 performances each year including ballet, operettas and musicals. It has, in its main repertoire, the greatest world and Polish opera classics. The Opera moved into its first permanent House in the autumn of 2008. It is in charge also of the Summer Festival of Opera and Operetta.

Kraków is home to two major Polish festivals of early music presenting forgotten Baroque oratorios and operas: Opera Rara,^[241] and Misteria Paschalia.^[242] Meanwhile, Capella Cracoviensis runs the Music in Old Krakow International Festival.^[243]

Academy of Music in Kraków, founded in 1888, is known worldwide as the alma mater of the contemporary Polish composer

Music organisations and venues include: Kraków Philharmonic,[245] Sinfonietta Cracovia (a.k.a. the Orchestra of the Royal City of Kraków), the Polish Radio Choir of Kraków, Organum Academic Choir, the Mixed Mariański Choir (Mieszany Chór Mariański), Kraków Academic Choir of the Jagiellonian University, the Kraków Chamber Choir, Amar Corde String Quartet, Consortium Iagellonicum Baroque Orchestra of the Jagiellonian University, Brass Band of T. Sendzimir Steelworks, and Camerata Chamber Orchestra of Radio Kraków.

According to official statistics, in 2019 Kraków was visited by over 14 million tourists including 3.3 million foreign travellers.^[246] The visitors spent over 7.5 billion zloty (ca. €1.7 billion) in the city (without travel costs and pre-booked accommodation). Most foreign tourists came from Germany (14.2%), United Kingdom (13.9%), Italy (11.5%), France (11.2%), Spain (10.4%) and Ukraine (5.4%).^[246] The Kraków tour-guide from the Lesser Poland Visitors Bureau indicated that not all statistics are recorded due to the considerable number of those who come, staying in readily available private rooms paid for by cash, especially from Eastern Europe.^[247]

The main reasons for visiting the city are: its historical monuments, recreation as well as relatives and friends (placing third in the ranking), religion and business. There are 120 quality hotels in Kraków (usually about half full) offering 15,485 overnight accommodations.

The construction of a new

Kraków was the host city of the 2014 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship and 2016 European Men's Handball Championship. It was also selected as the European City of Sport for 2014.^[260] Kraków was bidding to host the 2022 Winter Olympics with Jasná but the bid was rejected by a majority (69.72%) of the vote in a referendum on 16 May 2014.^[261] Krakow and the Malopolska region hosted the 2023 European Games from 21 June to 2 July 2023. More than 7,000 athletes representing 49 countries participated.^[262]

From top, left to right: consulates general of the United States, Hungary, Austria and France

There are eight consulates general in Kraków –

Kraków is referred to by various names in different languages. An old English name for the city is Cracow; though it has become less common in recent decades, some sources still use it. The city is known in Czech, Slovak and Serbian as Krakov, in Hungarian as Krakkó, in Lithuanian as Krokuva, in Finnish as Krakova, in German and Dutch as Krakau, in Latin, Spanish and Italian as Cracovia, in French as Cracovie, in Portuguese as Cracóvia and in Russian as Краков. Ukrainian and Yiddish languages refer to it as Krakiv (Краків) and Kroke (קראָקע) respectively.^[264]

Kraków is twinned, or maintains close relations, with 36 cities around the world:^{[265][266][267]}

• Cracow Circle Thomism
   – Philosophical system originating from Thomas AquinasPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Tourism in Poland
• Lesser Poland – Historical region of Poland
• List of cities and towns in Poland
• Dworzec Główny Tunel

Bibliography

• ISBN 978-0-253-35599-7
  .
• Jane Hardy, Al Rainnie, Restructuring Krakow: Desperately Seeking Capitalism. Published 1996 by Mansell Publishing, 285 pages. Business, economics, finance.
  ISBN 0-7201-2231-7
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• Edward Hartwig, Kraków, with Jerzy Broszkiewicz (contributor). Published 1980, by Sport i Turystyka, 239 pages.
  ISBN 83-217-2321-7
  .
• Bolesław T. Łaszewski, Kraków: karta z dziejów dwudziestolecia. Published 1985, by Bicentennial Pub. Corp. (original from the
  ISBN 0-912757-08-6
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• Longerich, Peter (2010). Holocaust – The Nazi Persecution and Murder of the Jews. Oxford University Press.
  ISBN 978-0-19-280436-5
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• Joanna Markin, Bogumiła Gnypowa, Kraków: The Guide. Published 1996 by Pascal Publishing, 342 pages.
  ISBN 83-87037-28-1
  .
• Tim Pepper, Andrew Beattie, Krakow. Published 2007 by Hunter Pub Inc., 160 pages.
  ISBN 1-84306-308-5
  . The book includes description of public art galleries and museums.
• Scott Simpson, Krakow. Published 2003 by
  ISBN 1-84157-187-3
  .
• Simpson, Scott; Zukowska, Helena (15 April 2008). Travellers Kraków, 3rd: Guides to Destinations Worldwide (fourth ed.). Peterborough, United Kingdom:
  ISBN 978-1-84157-901-6. Retrieved 11 March 2010.^{[permanent dead link}
  ‍]
• Dorota Wąsik, Emma Roper-Evans, Krakow. Published 2002 by Somerset. Cultural guidebook series, 160 pages.
  ISBN 963-00-5930-4
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• Richard Watkins, Best of Kraków, Published 2006, by
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  .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kraków.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kraków.

Look up Kraków in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikisource has the text of the 1921 Collier's Encyclopedia article Cracow.

• "Cracow" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 359–360.
• Protect Kraków Heritage Campaign
• krakowmiasto.pl Archived 30 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine (in Polish)
• Jewish Community in Kraków Archived 14 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine on Virtual Shtetl
• Kraków, Poland at JewishGen
• Map: Kraków Heritage Under Threat Archived 8 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine
• Municipal spatial information system –
  GIS
  maps of Kraków (in Polish)
  • Cultural heritage of Kraków (in yellow on city map)
  • Kraków old map from 1785 year
• Beatniks and Beyond: An Alternative Guide to Kraków Archived 29 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
• Things to do in Kraków Archived 14 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine
• Interesting places to visit in Kraków Archived 24 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine
• 10 must-see things in Krakow Archived 4 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine
• Krakow.wiki Archived 11 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine – biggest knowledge base about Krakow in English
• Must See Attractions & Activities in Krakow Archived 14 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine