The most ceremonial route through the city – the way of grand entrances, parades and funerary processions – is popularly known as the Royal Route. It begins by St Florian’s Church in Matejko Square and runs past Kraków’s Barbican, one of the few preserved in Europe, built in the 15th century. Not much further along the route is St Florian’s Gate, once the main entrance into the city. The Royal Way leads along Florianska Street, through the Main Market Square and Grodzka Street to Wawel, where it ends in a truly most unique place: the arcaded courtyard of the residence of Polish monarchs.
The Barbican together with St Florian’s Gate is worth seeing for being an example of the city fortification. Along Florianska Street we can see buildings housing the famous Jama Michalika café and Jan Matejko House. The Main Market Square, the largest public square of Medieval Europe, is dominated by the towers of the Gothic St Mary’s Church. Every hour the famous Kraków bugle call is played from the taller one. Inside the church we can admire its greatest highlight: the high altar by Witt Stwosz (Veit Stoss) – Europe largest Gothic altar. The central part of the Market Square is occupied by the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) – a rare example of a Medieval structure that has for centuries served as a commercial centre. Here you can walk along the stalls offering hand-made craftwork done by the local people. The Old Town Hall Tower dominates over the Cloth Hall. Passing by the Adam Mickiewicz monument and St Adalbert’s Church we enter Grodzka Street with extremely precious monastery complexes of Dominicans and Franciscans as well as Poor Clares’ Convent and churches of SS. Peter and Paul, St Martin and St Giles. Kanonicza Street is an exceptionally charming place with a number of recently renovated houses. Both Grodzka Street and Kanonicza Street lead us to the foot of Wawel Hill and the Royal Castle – one of the most splendid Renaissance royal residences in Europe. The place of the great historical value is the Wawel Cathedral, the burial and the coronation place of almost all Polish kings and queens. It is an excellent lesson in the history of art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Here, we can find the medieval tombs of Polish kings, richly decorated chapels with the most splendid one called Sigismund Chapel all covered by the golden dome. In Renaissance it served as the resting place for the most powerful Polish dynasty, the Jagiellonians. The walking tour finishes with the nice view of the Vistula River from Wawel Hill. |
