Market Square in Cracow

It is a symbol of Cracow, definitely one of the biggest and most beautiful medieval market squares in Europe. It attracts tourists with incredible atmosphere, monuments and entertainment.
Over the Royal Market Square there is St. Mary’s Church (Kosciól Mariacki), actually a basilica) which contains a masterpiece of late-Gothic art, the carved high altar created by Wit Stwosz (1477-89). In order to have a closer look at it one needs to buy a ticket.

From the church’s main tower there is a trumpet call, the hejnal mariacki, sounded every hour.
The Market Square is dominated by the Cloth Hall which has remained a market hall in today’s terms. One can buy or see beautiful, typically Polish goods here. In the Market there is the best known in Poland Adam Mickiewicz Monument, a meeting place for people.


From the 70-metre Town Hall Tower situated in the Square one can see a wide panorama of the city, whereas inside there is a branch of the Historical Museum of Cracow. Nowadays the 14th century Tower is the only remnant of the City Hall. In the Square there are also small tenement houses with rich history which add charm to this place. Many of them are homes of joints and open-air cafes.