Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

184 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp218–21 and pp222–5

Street-by-Street: Main

Market Square

The huge Main Market Square (Rynek
Główny) was laid out when Cracow received
its new municipal charter in 1257. One of
the largest squares in Europe, it brims with
life all year round. In summer, pedestrians
negotiate the maze of café tables that fill the
lively square, along with a host of shops,
antique dealers, restaurants, bars and clubs.
There are also numerous interesting muse-
ums, galleries and historic sights, including
some splendid Renaissance and Baroque
houses and mansions.

. Cloth Hall
This beautiful
Renaissance building
replaced an earlier
Gothic market hall.
The upper floor houses
a branch of the
National Museum 1

St Adalbert’s Church

This is a small but

splendid Romanesque

church. It predates the

planning of the vast Main

Market Square and is all

now but lost in it.

. Church of
St Mary
The façade of
this church, with
its two impres-
sive towers, is
one of the finest
Gothic structures
in Poland 4

City Hall Tower
The Gothic tower is the only
remaining part of the form er
City Hall. A café has been
opened in the basement 2

BRACKA

ŚW ANNY WIŚLNA

SZEWSKA

SZCZEPAŃSKA

RYNEK

GŁÓWNY

SŁAWKOWSKA

ŚW JANA

FLORIAŃSKA

STAR SIGHTS

. Cloth Hall
. Church of St Mary

Ulica Floriańska

is one of the

busiest streets

in Cracow 3