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The
Great
Barbican of Krakow
Krakow's main city gate, Brama
Florianska, was made insurmountable in the
beginning of the l6th century thanks to Europe's
mightiest barbican. The circular marvel of military architecture surrounds space
24.4 meter in
diameter. Its high walls are three meters thick.
The awesome structure, topped with seven turrets,
has 130 loopholes in four rows: the lower to be
used by artillery, the upper for archers and
riflemen.
In the past
the Krakow barbican (Barbakan
in Polish) was surrounded by a 30-meter-wide,
deep moat. However, if the enemy had forced their
way in, they would have found themselves
entrapped inside and shoot at from all sides. The
barbican was connected with the Brama Florianska gate tower by a drawbridge and a walled passage.
Nowadays
the 500-year-old fortification serves
occasionally for a summer concert hall, theater
etc.
Tour
of the Krakow barbican
The
barbican is included in the tour of the Brama
Florianska gate tower and adjacent medieval fortifications.
They are open to visitors daily from 10:30 a.m. to
6 p.m. Sightseers enter through the Baszta Pasamonikow tower at the eastern end
of Pijarska street at Szpitalna street. Besides the barbican
the tour consists of the parapet walk of the remnants of the
city walls, the neo-Gothic
upstairs chapel of the Brama Florianska gate, and the Brama Stolarska tower. A normal ticket
costs six zlotys.
Wawel Royal Castle
Home to three dynasties of Poland's
monarchs. Its stately halls and exquisite
chambers are filled with priceless art, best
period furniture and rare ancient objects. The
collection of the 16th-century monumental Flemish
tapestries is
matchless.
Wawel Cathedral
Poland's impressive national shrine
shelters plenty of superb church art. Its giant bell of 1520
ranks with the world's largest. Most Polish kings
and their family members are buried in the
cathedral, its chapels and crypts.
Grand Square
Krakow’s central Grand Square (Rynek
Glowny), the largest plaza of medieval Europe and
one of the world’s finest with its spectacular
landmarks, has remained the hub of the city since
the 13th century.
Basilica of the
Virgin Mary's
The immense Gothic church, Krakow's
principal temple since the 13th century, shelters
the world's greatest
Gothic sculpture among its many excellent
works of art
Cloth Hall
The world's oldest shopping mall has
been in business for 700 years. The present
Renaissance edifice dates from 1555.
Town Hall Tower
Krakow's leaning tower was built by the
end of the 13th century.
City Walls
700-year-old main city gate with
adjoining mighty walls and towers.
Planty Garden Ring
Park of 30 varied gardens among old
trees round Krakow's Old Town historical district
Collegium Maius
15th-century impressive Grand College of
the Krakow university where Copernicus once
studied.
Krakow mummies
Picturesque 17th-century church and
monastery shelter numerous naturally mummified
bodies in their crypts.
Kanonicza Street
The most beautiful of Europe's ancient streets,
arguably.
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