Krakow Royal Route

Preserved since the Middle Ages, the urban layout is arranged in such a way that all the treets lead to the Main Market Square, the city's central space. The Gothic St Mary's Church, towering over the Main Market Square of Krakow, houses Wit Stwosz's (Veit Stoss) masterpiece: Europe's largest Gothic altar. From the taller tower of St Mary's, the bugle call is sounded every hour.

The central part of Krakow's Main Market Square, the largest square in European cities, paragon to St Peter's Square in Rome and St Mark's in Venice, is taken by the Cloth Hall, known as Sukiennice - a rare example of a medieval building that has for centuries been used for commercial purposes.

From the Main Market Square you can follow Grodzka Street to Wawel - one of the most magnificent Renaissance residences in Europe. Especially unique is the "Heads Room", whose carved ceiling is decorated with 194 sculpted wooden heads. The most unique collection of 136 tapestries that decorate Wawel, was commissioned by King Sigismundus Augustus (Zygmunt August) in Flanders.



The route covers also St Florian's Church, municipal fortifications, tenement houses in Florianska Street, the Statue to Adam Mickiewicz, the palaces and houses of the Main Market Square, the City Hall Tower, St Adalbert's (Voitek's) Church, the Dominican Church and Monastery, the Wielopolski Palace, the Franciscan Church and Monastery, SS Peter and Paul's Church, Poor Clares' Church and Convent, St Martin's Church, palaces and houses in Kanonicza Street, St Giles' Church, and the Wawel Royal Castle.