Poland 27th April: Walk 3A – Old quarter

In 1257 Duke Boleslaw the chaste gave Cracow her charter. This law was of key important to the city as it determined local government and trade privileges, thus stimulating the city’s future development. The charter stipulated strict rules for development: a large, centrally located square, surrounded by a regular grid of streets was to become the city centre. To this day the Old Quarter remains the heart of modern, fast developing Krakow. It is an area with the greatest concentration of important historic sites for visitors.

The Barbakan – a fortified gothic structure built to defend the main entrance to the city and now the only one of its kind in Poland still completely intact.

Planty – created in the 19^th century to replace the old medieval city walls. The grounds are enhanced by fountains, open spaces and monuments of famous personalities of polish history.

St Florian’s Gate - controlled the main access to the city, was first mentioned in 1307 and was desiccated to the cities patron saint. At the beginning of the 14^th Century the square stone tower was built above the gate. On the south side if a baroque bas-relief depicting St Florian, patron saint of the fire brigade. 

Episcopal Place – one of the oldest buildings in Krakow, and once home to Pope John Paul II

Collegium Maius – buildings of the Krakow University that have been there since the middle ages.  

Church of St Anne – dating from the 14^th Century, the present church was built on an earlier gothic structure. This church is considered to be one of the finest baroque architecture in Poland, due to its proximity to the university many important university ceremonies are held here.

Palace of art –

Piarist Church – the facade is framed by the long street

The Princess Czartoryski Museum – located next to the St Florian’s Gate, this museum exhibits paintings from the Czartoryski family assembled from 1800

The Juliusz Slowacki Theater – built between 1890 and 1893 as the new city theatre, it was considered to have one of the most technically advanced stages in the world for its time.