Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) in Cracow's Main Square - Description, photos and points of interest

The Cloth Hall in Krakow is one of the city's most characteristic buildings, whose roots date back to the Middle Ages. For centuries it has been the commercial and cultural heart of Krakow, attracting tourists from all over the world with its unique architecture and rich history. The Cloth Hall is not only a place where trade took place, but also witnessed many important historical and cultural events.

In this article we will explore the mysteries and fascinating history of the Cloth Halldiscovering their significance for Krakow and for Poland as a whole. You will find here pictures of this amazing buildingbut we guarantee that only seeing it with your own eyes allows you to appreciate their beauty and the craftsmanship of the architects.

The Cloth Hall: what is it?

Jes is a historic commercial building located centrally in the Main Market Square in Krakow, originally measuring approximately 104 x 26 metres. Repeatedly rebuilt, it gained its distinctive appearance from the mascarons on the attic, a popular decorative element during the Gothic and Mannerist periods. These misshapen human or animal heads were carved on commission for the Krakow City Council by the Italian architect and sculptor Santi Gucci, active in Poland during the late Renaissance.

The mascarons, placed on structural elements, were sometimes also attributed a magical significance, intended to ward off evil and ensure the stability of the building. Another characteristic element is the so-called Polish attic, cut in the form of a ridge, forming the finial of the roof. During the restoration carried out by Tomasz Pryliński between 1875 and 1879, the outer stalls were demolished and replaced by risalits at the transept and ogival galleries along both sides. Pryliński further enriched the building with risalits on the axis, attics on the annexes and an oriel window on the side of Slawkowska Street.

Since the end of the 19th century, the appearance of the Cloth Hall has remained practically unchanged, with the exception of the addition on the ceiling of the lower hall of the coats of arms of the cities that Poland regained after World War II. The last major restoration works were carried out in 1975-1979 and 1992-1994.

History 

Over the centuries, the Cloth Hall in Krakow has undergone many changes, and its current appearance differs significantly from its original shape. As early as in 1257, Duke Bolesław Wstydliwy undertook to build stone clothmakers' stalls during the foundation of Krakow. These stalls formed a double row, creating a kind of corridor in the middle of the Market Square. In this form, this amazing building survived until the mid-14th century.

Stone Cloth Hall by the mid-14th century.

Initially, the Cloth Hall was a wooden clothier's stall surrounded by stalls, stalls and butcher's shops. In the deed of incorporation, however, the Duke undertook to build stone clothiers' stalls. These stone stalls formed a two-row layout with a street in the middle, which was closed at night on both sides. Around 1300, the passageway with the stalls was roofed over, which gave it the character of a market hall. In this form they survived until the mid-14th century.

Gothic Cloth Hall 1358-1555.

King Casimir III the Great erected new Gothic cloth halls before 1358. The central hall, 108 metres long and 10 metres wide, had two rows of stalls added on both sides to a depth of 7.5 metres. Altogether there were 18 stalls along the long axis, enclosed by vaults and opened with pointed or semicircular portals. The south and north sides had double sharp-arched arcades, giving them a shape reminiscent of modern cloth halls. These Gothic buildings survived in this form until 1555, when they were destroyed in a fire.

Renaissance Cloth Hall from 1559.

Between 1556 and 1559, the reconstruction of the burnt-out Cloth Hall began. Master Pankracy directed the work, as a result of which the large hall of the building was covered with a collector's vault. The Cloth Hall was also completed with an attic with arcade divisions and a crest decorated with mascarons, designed by Santi Gucci. Jan Maria Padovano additionally designed the columned loggias, which were added. In 1601, the Cloth Hall passage was rebuilt and decorated with risalits.

19th century reconstruction

Between 1875 and 1879, the cloth halls underwent extensive reconstruction according to a design by Tomasz Prylinski. As part of this work, the adjacent stalls and buildings were demolished. The lower hall was transformed into a row of wooden market stalls arranged along the walls and decorated with the coats of arms of Polish cities, guild emblems and seals in 1895. The upper hall, on the other hand, was adapted for use as a museum.

Risalits were added on the east-west axis and one-storey arcades. The eastern risalits were topped with mascarons depicting caricatures of the Krakow presidents Józef Dietl and Mikołaj Zyblikiewicz (by Walery Gadomski based on a drawing by Jan Matejko). On the façade of the western risalit, above the windows, are cartouches with Latin sayings designed by Józef Szujski.

On the left (looking from Szewska Street): "NATALE SOLVM DVLCE DINE CVNCTOS DVCIT ET IMMEMORES NON SINIT ESSE SVI" ( translated as "Our country fills us with an extraordinary sweetness and never lets us forget that we belong to it") - a quotation from Ovid's "Letters from Pontus". On the right: "There cannot be a state when the laws in it mean nothing and when the native custom perishes",( "ILLA NON EST CIVITAS CVM LEGES IN EA NIHIL VALENT CVM MOS OCCI DIT PATRIVS". ) - quote from Cicero's 'Paradoxes'. The top of the risalit is crowned by a sculpture designed by Jan Matejko, 'Day and Night'.

Modernity 

During the German occupation, the Cloth Hall was featured on the 50 zloty banknotes issued by the Emission Bank in Poland, demonstrating its symbolic importance to the country.

Today, the Cloth Hall houses two rows of stalls, mainly offering jewellery, souvenirs and handicrafts. On the first floor is the Gallery of Polish Painting and Sculpture of the 19th century, a branch of the National Museum. The ground floor also houses the famous Noworolski Café. In addition, the historic gas lighting in the exterior of the Cloth Hall has been preserved.

2010 also saw the opening of a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow, the Underground of the Main Market Square, the entrance to which is located in the building where the cloth trade originally flourished. Visitors can explore the underground corridors and tracts around, using glass ramps and footbridges that lead over the medieval cobblestones, offering an unusual experience and a chance to learn about the history of the place.

Our favourite curiosities

Legend of the Two Towers of St Mary's

In the towers St. Mary's Basilica in Cracow You can see the difference in height, which is an architectural curiosity. There is a bloody legend associated with it, which adds to the mysterious charm of the place.

On the taller of the towers, the bugle is played every hour, while in the lower tower, the church bell known as the Halfzygmunt is hung. Although there are no surviving architectural plans to explain this difference in height, a grim story circulates. According to legend, during the reign of Duke Boleslaw the Chaste (1243-1279), construction of two towers over the body of the church on the main square in Krakow began. The work was entrusted to two brothers. When the younger one noticed that his brother's work was going faster, out of jealousy he murdered him with a knife and the construction was stopped. The murderer, however, could not bear the remorse - the day after the temple was consecrated, he stabbed himself in the heart with a knife and then threw himself from the church tower. This crime still reminds us of itself, as the knife with which the crime was committed is still hung today in the Cloth Hall, reminding us of this tragic story.

Cafe "U Noworolskiego"

In 1879, Reman's Café opened in the Sukiennice, which was later taken over from Stefan Reman by Jan Noworolski. The interior of this café was designed in 1910 by Eugeniusz Dąbrowa, a well-known theatre decorator. It is still known today as the "U Noworol" café.

Gallery of 19th century Polish art

The Sukiennice houses one of Poland's largest exhibitions of 19th-century Polish painting and sculpture. It is located on the first floor of the Cloth Hall, which formerly housed a ragstone shop and is now becoming a meeting place for outstanding masterpieces.

In the gallery, visitors can admire a collection of paintings and sculptures that depict various aspects of Poland's social, cultural and political life in the 19th century. Walking through the halls, one finds works by some of the most eminent Polish artists of the period, such as Jan Matejko, Józef Chełmoński or Stanisław Wyspiański. Their paintings bring the past to life, depicting important historical events, genre scenes or portraits of famous figures of the time.

What is worth remembering about the clothiers?

In summary, the Cloth Hall in Krakow is not only one of the city's most characteristic landmarks, but also an important symbol of its history and culture. Since medieval times, it has served as a commercial and social centre, transforming with successive architectural eras and historical events.

Today, the Cloth Hall is not only a place to buy souvenirs or handicrafts, but also a cultural centre with art galleries, museums and cafés. Their unique architecture, enriched by the characteristic mascarons and attic, attracts both locals and tourists from all over the world.

Over the centuries, the Cloth Hall has survived many changes, but its unique charm and historical significance continue to attract attention and delight visitors. This remarkable place is an integral part of the landscape of the Main Market Square in Krakow and remains an important point on the city's map, linking the past to the present.