Barbican in Cracow
Medals available for purchase at the entrance to the Barbican!
The Barbican was built at the very end of the 15th century (1498-1499) and was the strongest element of Kraków’s fortifications, which had been expanded over the centuries. The Codex of Baltazar Behem contains information that the cornerstone for its construction was laid by King John I Albert of Poland himself. The king’s personal involvement is further evidenced by the fact that he personally monitored the progress of the work and spared no expense. The haste in completing the project was necessary due to the growing threat to the Polish state from Wallachians, Tatars, and Turks, whose plundering expeditions reached as far as the borders of Lesser Poland.
The Barbican is an extraordinary example of defensive architecture. Built on an incomplete circular plan (6/10 of a circle), it was originally connected to St. Florian’s Gate by a neck passage. Its internal diameter measured 24.4 meters, while externally it exceeded 30 meters. It was once surrounded by a semicircular moat, 26 meters wide and up to 6 meters deep, which was later filled in as the city expanded. The underground part featured a vaulted passage leading to special sally ports that allowed defenders to exit the fortress across the moat. This passage consisted of two sections: the western one over 10.5 meters long and the eastern one 12.5 meters long.
The Barbican’s walls were constructed with exceptional solidity and great knowledge of military architecture. Up to the former water level of the moat, they were built of limestone blocks joined with lime mortar, while everything above was made of well-fired brick. The walls, ranging from over 3 meters to about 45 cm thick, were resistant to artillery fire and provided solid protection for defenders.
The Barbican featured four levels of staggered embrasures (totaling 130) adapted for hand firearms, ensuring complete fire coverage of the approaches. From 1566, its main task became defending access to the City Arsenal (built 1565-1566 by city architect Gabriel Słoński). The structure was crowned with machicolations – projecting galleries with floor openings for pouring molten lead, boiling oil, or dropping projectiles on attackers – and seven observation turrets (alternately round and octagonal) accessible only by ladders.
One of the city’s main gates was located in the Barbican, facing Kleparz and offset about 30 degrees west from St. Florian’s Gate. A partially drawbridge once spanned the moat here, supported on stone-and-brick pillars.
Positioned along the Royal Route (from St. Florian’s Church through Florianska Street, Main Market Square, Grodzka Street to Wawel Castle), the Barbican witnessed coronation processions, royal funerals, and the arrivals of European diplomats and victorious commanders. It earned the honorable title of “Gate of Glory” (Porta Gloriae) – a monarch’s passage through it symbolized taking power over the capital.
The nearly impregnable Barbican proved its worth in October 1587 when it helped repel Archduke Maximilian III of Austria’s attack during the succession struggle for the Polish crown. It fell only in 1655 during the Swedish Deluge when defenders exhausted their ammunition and supplies. During the Bar Confederation (1768), it served against Russian troops.
The early 19th century brought a fight for the Barbican’s survival. While most of Kraków’s walls were demolished following Emperor Francis II’s 1806 decree, architect and senator Feliks Radwański saved the northern section including the Barbican in 1817. This marked its transformation from military structure to historic monument. Today, cared for by the Historical Museum of Kraków, it welcomes visitors who can explore the history of the city’s fortifications within its walls.
