Kraków Old Town

The historic core quarter of Kraków, Poland is known as Kraków Old Town. It is one of Poland's most well-known ancient districts, and it served as the political heart of the country from 1038 until King Sigismund III Vasa moved his court to Warsaw in 1596.

The entire medieval old town, known as Cracow's Historic Centre, was one of the first places to be inscribed on UNESCO's original World Heritage List. The ancient town is also one of Poland's recognized national Historic Monuments, chosen in the first round and monitored by the National Heritage Board of Poland.

The medieval city of Kraków was encircled by a 3 km (1.9 mph) defensive wall with 46 towers and seven main gates. The fortifications that surround the Old Town were built over two centuries. A variety of historic landmarks, including St. Mary's Basilica (Kościół Mariacki), Church of St. Wojciech (St. Adalbert's), Church of St. Barbara, and other national treasures, are located nearby. The Renaissance cloth hall Sukiennice (now containing souvenir stores, restaurants, and merchant booths) lies in the heart of the plaza, surrounded by kamienice (row homes) and noble residences, with the National Gallery of Art upstairs.

The Royal Road, the coronation route for the Kings of Poland, cuts through the entire region. The route begins at St. Florian's Church in the medieval district of Kleparz, just outside the old city walls' northern face; continues past the Barbican of Kraków (Barbakan), erected in 1499, and enters Stare Miasto through the Florian Gate. It runs down Floriaska Street, through the Main Square, and up Grodzka Street to Wawel, the former royal residence overlooking the Vistula River.

Location: Kraków, Kraków County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland