The pearl of Renaissance architecture, the oldest “commercial center” of Krakow – the Cloth Hall is one of the most important historical buildings in Krakow.
The Cloth Hall called also Sukiennice is one of the city’s most recognizable icons.
The Cloth Hall was one of the most important institutions of the city, as it was the place of trade. The first Cloth Hall, which was built in the 13th century when Krakow received city charter, consisted of two rows of stone stalls forming a street in the middle of the Market Square. Both ends of it were closed at night with a gate to keep thieves away. The brick, roofed Cloth Hall was built in the 14th century. Trading in the Cloth Hall was an important source of income for the city.
Over the years, the Cloth Hall, which had not been renovated, was losing its shine. The building we see today is the effect of the renovation.
While visiting the Cloth Hall, don’t forget to visit:
– cafe of Jan Noworolski with Art Nouveau decoration and furnishing,
– the Gallery of 19th-century Polish Art – a branch of the National Museum in Kraków, there are exhibitions of paintings by Jan Matejko, Piotr Michałowski, Jacek Malczewski, Henryk Siemiradzki, Józef Chełmoński and others,
– the Underground Market Square – a tourist route which offers an unusual journey into the past,
– the iron knife – the tool that hangs in the passage through the Cloth Hall from the side of Adam Mickiewicz’s monument is an old sign of the severe Magdeburg Law that punished thieves by cutting off an ear and handed over more serious criminals to the executioner.
For more information click here