A brief history of Krakow

An abundance of history is a big part of Krakow’s slow travel appeal. Founded in the 7th century, the former royal capital of Poland and the cultural heart of the nation is a hotbed of heritage landmarks and old-time neighborhoods infused with old-time character. 

Buckle up. We’re speed-running through a millennium + of Krakow’s history, revealing the layers that made the city such an absorbing slow travel destination. 

Krakow’s rollercoaster history begins in the 7th century with the myth of Prince Krakus, who poisoned a man-eating dragon and founded a city in his name.

Archeological evidence of Prince Krakus and the fire-breathing monster are predictably scarce. Yet, reminders are ever-present, from the legendary burial place beneath Krakus Mound (a popular spot for panoramic picnics) to the fire-emitting statue at Wawel Castle.

Despite the legend, Krakow is not the oldest city in Poland. Not even close; that title belongs to Kalisz, founded in the second century.

Nonetheless, Krakow was there when Poland began and is one of its oldest cities. In 966, Krakow emerges from myth to appear in historical records alongside other notable cities like Poznan. At the same time, the Kingdom of Poland was founded, and work would soon begin at Wawel Cathedral.

These events opened a profoundly important chapter in Krakow’s history. In 1038, Casimir I the Restorer, of the Piast dynasty, laid his crown at Wawel and made Krakow the capital of the Kingdom of Poland. Krakow remained the capital of Poland until 1596.

A rich cultural and architectural heritage remained, shaped by Krakow’s prosperity during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Footprints of this past abound, especially in the Old Town and Kazimierz neighborhoods that evolved while Krakow was the capital. 

Krakow’s early days were not smooth. Mongol invaders destroyed Krakow in 1241, an event recalled by the bugle call at St Mary’s Church.

Tatars returned to sack the city again 18 years later, which didn’t sit well with locals. Fortifications were raised (symbolic St. Florian’s Gate is still standing), and it was third time lucky when the invaders were repelled during the Third Mongol Invasion of 1288.

The devastating sack of Krakow in 1241 had one benefit still appreciated today, as city planners had the chance to redesign Krakow.

A member of the Hanseatic League and subject to Magdeburg Rights (AKA German Law) protecting trade and security, Krakow prospered.  Textile trading at the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) and salt from Wieliczka Salt Mine helped pay for the Old Town’s innovative grid pattern and famous market square.

Two suburbs were merged into Krakow by King Casimir III The Great in 1335. Taking his name, Kazimierz would later become the Jewish Quarter and play a vital role in local history.

The ultimate symbol of Poland’s progress during the Middle Ages, the Krakow Academy, was founded in 1364 by the same king. Poland’s first and the region’s second oldest university (now Jagiellonian University) would later teach local wunderkind, Nicolaus Copernicus.

Traces of Krakow’s medieval prosperity can be found all over the city and at attractions outside Krakow, particularly at landmarks like Ogrodzieniec Castle which helped secure Krakow’s power as the Polish capital (and now makes the occasional TV and film cameo).

The final two kings of the Jagiellonian Dynasty loved the arts, placing Wawel Castle and Krakow at the intellectual center of Poland. Artists came from across Europe, especially the Renaissance crucible, Italy.

Major construction projects transformed landmark buildings, with city icons like the Cloth Hall and Wawel Castle receiving Renaissance makeovers.

A golden time for Poland and Krakow ended in 1596 when King Sigismund III Vasa (same name, different dynasty) moved the capital from Krakow to Warsaw. Warsaw benefitted from its proximity to other parts of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formed in 1569.

The federation did not endure. And the history of Krakow would be far more tumultuous in the ensuing centuries. 

The three partitions of Poland at the end of the 18th century ended the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and eliminated Polish sovereignty for 123 years.

It’s a convoluted web that begins in 1772 when the Commonwealth loses the War of the Bar Confederation. Powerful empires – Russia, Prussia, and Austria-Hungary – carved Poland up like an imperial pie, and Krakow fell sporadically under the control of the Habsburgs until the end of World War I.

In the interim, notable events shaped Krakow’s history. A highlights reel includes:

1794 – Tadeusz Kościuszko’s ultimately doomed rebellion led to occupation by Prussian armies, who stole the royal treasury.

1807 – The Duchy of Warsaw was created by Napoleon Bonaparte who was busy at the time conquering Europe in the name of the French Revolution, and perhaps his vanity.

1815 – Free City of Cracow was created at the Congress of Vienna, ending the Napoleonic Wars and defining Europe’s borders for a century. Poland is partitioned, but Krakow remains free city status until 1846.

1846 – Krakow Uprising. A fight for Polish independence begins in Krakow.

1846 – Grand Duchy of Cracow. The uprising fails, and the Austrian Empire strikes back, reoccupying Krakow and designating part of the Galician territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

1918 – World War I ends the Austro-Hungarian Empire and returns independence to Poland.

On September 6 1939 the Nazi’s entered Krakow.

In an act that saved many, Mayor Stanisław Klimecki offered himself as hostage. Later executed by the Gestapo, atrocities would be commonplace over the next 5 years.

Krakow would become home to one of the most notorious sites in history, Auschwitz-Birkenau. The extermination camp synonymous with the Holocaust is the most haunting reminder of this dark period of Krakow’s history.

A more uplifting story is told at Oskar Schindler’s factory, the true story retold in the place where it happened. A memorial stands where the Płaszów concentration camp stood that housed the prisoners. In contrast, a museum is housed in the old Gestapo HQ on Pomorska Street.

Krakow in World War II is a tale of imaginable tragedy. But the city survived being destroyed like Warsaw and most cities of the region. 

One potentially partisan tale tells of the Red Army sparing Krakow from bombardment when advancing west. Others suggest Krakow was merely spared due to the Germans retreating speedily. Whatever the reason, Krakow avoided the fate of other Polish cities that had to be rebuilt brick by brick.

The best way to discover all the stories is to join a tour like Our Secrets of World War II Private Walking Tour, as there are many remarkable stories from a period that left a profound mark on Krakow. 

For the next 40 years, Poland’s and Krakow’s fate was tied to the Soviet Union. The Polish People’s Republic lasted from 1947 to 1989 and was part of the Eastern Bloc, throughout.

Krakow remained the cultural core of Poland, and the historic center would gain UNESCO World Heritage status in 1978.

In nearby Wadowice, Karol Józef Wojtyła was making his way up the Catholic Church. He would become Pope John Paul II in 1978 and something of a local icon.

In 1989, the Berlin Wall came down, and The Hoff was firing up his vocal chords for a New Year Party that would help to heal Germany. The fight to end communism had begun earlier in Poland, championed by the Solidarity Trade Union Movement led by future Nobel Peace Prize Winner Lech Wałęsa.

Poland is unrecognizable from the communist era. Vestiges of the Middle Ages are far easier to find.

Since then, Poland joined NATO (1999) and the European Union (2004).  The big picture has changed in ways nobody could predict. Krakow has moved with the times to become one of the most exciting European city break destinations.

Happily, the city wears its past comfortably alongside its modern sensibilities, preserving architectural gems over the ages and raising monuments where it matters. You’ll find plenty of suggestions in our 13 reasons to visit Krakow, but local history is undoubtedly one of the biggest.