Main Square, Kraków

Rynek Główny as seen from the tower of the St. Mary's Basilica. On the left Church of St. Wojciech, on the right Sukiennice with Town Hall Tower behind, and the Adam Mickiewicz Monument in the bottom-center

Main Market Square in Kraków (Polish: Rynek Główny w Krakowie, also known as Rynek Krakowski – Kraków Market Square) is the main square of the Old Town, in Kraków, Poland and a principal urban space seen as a center of the city. It dates back to the 13th century and – it is the largest (200 by 200 meter square) medieval town square in Europe. At the time of its location a bustling commerce center of a city trading in the Hanseatic League Rynek was populated by rows of stalls and administrative buildings.

The main landmarks of the square are the St. Mary's Basilica (Kościół Mariacki), the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), the St. Adalbert's Church, Town Hall Tower (Ratusz), and the Adam Mickiewicz Monument.

History

Rynek Główny was first redeveloped in 1257, during the location of the city of Kraków by prince of Kraków, Bolesław V the Chaste. It was purposefully designed to be large, to attract passing merchants so they would offer their goods in Kraków, which at that time was the capital of the Kingdom of Poland. At 40,000 m², for many centuries it was the largest marketplace and town square in Europe.

Kościuszko taking the oath at the Rynek. 1797 painting by Franciszek Smuglewicz.

In addition to its original merchant functions the square witnessed many important events in the history of Poland. It was a place of regal ceremonies as part of the Royal Road (Droga Królewska), frequented by diplomats and dignitaries traveling to the Wawel Castle. In 1364 King of Poland Casimir III the Great held Pan-European Congress of Kraków there. On 10 April 1525, Albert I, Duke of Prussia paid the Prussian Homage to Sigismund I the Old, king of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Jan III Sobieski, also a King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, celebrated there his victory over the Turkish Empire in the 1683 Battle of Vienna. On 24 March 1794, Tadeusz Kościuszko announced the general uprising (pictured) and assumed the powers of the Commander in Chief of Polish armed forces at the square, beginning the Kościuszko Uprising.

Location

The square is located on the Royal Road once traversed during the Royal Coronations at Wawel Cathedral, between the Barbican of Kraków to the north, and the Wawel Castle to the south. Ever since its creation the square has been considered the center of the city.

The Main Square is surrounded by old brick buildings (kamienica) and palaces, almost all of them several centuries old. They house many tourism-oriented establishments as well as the Historical Museum of Kraków and the International Center of Culture. Probably the most famous of the oldest establishments is the Wierzynek's restaurant, remembered for the great feast (dated 1364) which, according to the legend, lasted for twenty one days and helped to reach a consensus between monarchs of Europe.

Among the square's landmarks are the Sukiennice – a Renaissance trading hall and one of city's most recognizable icons – now host to many merchant stalls, and the Gallery of the National Museum, upstairs. Another one is St. Mary's Basilica with its Altar by Wit Stwosz, a Brick Gothic church built in the 14th century adjacent to the main market square. Other landmarks include the Church of St. Adalbert, Town Hall Tower and the Adam Mickiewicz Monument.

Since its creation, the level of the Market Square has raised, in some places by over 5 meters. Underneath there are large basements, the most famous of which is the Piwnica pod Baranami. Many basements are now transformed into cafés and restaurants; other include the Theater Maszkaron and small archeological museum in the basement of the St. Adalbert's church. There are passages linking some of the basements – for example one linking the Town Hall Tower with Sukiennice. Sukiennice itself has a little known underground trading hall, 100 meters wide and 5 meters high. Near the Sienna Street there is another underground hall (Kramy Bogate), with 1200 square meters of space.

The Square is a popular place for public events and festivities – such as the annual Gala Concert of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity and the largest New Year's Eve party in Poland. Like many other old town squares, Main Market Square in Kraków is known for its large population of Rock Pigeons.

In December 2005, Kraków's Rynek Główny was voted the World's Best Square by the Project for Public Spaces.

See also

• Culture of Kraków
• Culture of medieval Poland

References

• Template:Polish

External links

• Information about and photographs of Krakow Market Square
• High-res satellite photo of the Square by Google Maps