Underground of the Market Square in Cracow
Medals available next to the shop and in the shop in the Rynek Underground beneath the Cloth Hall!
While walking between the Cloth Hall and St. Mary’s Basilica, one might not realize that beneath the surface, just a few meters underground, lies a true treasury of knowledge about Kraków’s past. To discover it, all you need to do is descend into the Rynek Underground.
On September 24, 2010, a tourist route titled “Following the European Identity of Kraków” was opened. The creation of this interactive exhibition was made possible by archaeological research conducted continuously from 2005 to 2010 in the eastern part of the Main Market Square. These excavations uncovered a wealth of traces of the site’s centuries-long history. Beneath the Market Square, a unique archaeological reserve spanning nearly 4,000 m² was established—one of the largest of its kind in Europe—allowing visitors to admire the uncovered treasures and learn about the turbulent history of medieval Kraków.
The underground exhibition not only presents Kraków’s rich history but also highlights the city’s connections with the most important centers of trade and culture in medieval Europe. It showcases the significance of Poland’s then-capital in the activities of the Hanseatic League. The collected artifacts—such as 14th-century coins, ornaments, and ceramic vessels—confirm the centuries-long tradition of European cultural and trade exchange that took place here.
The tourist route in the Rynek Underground winds between the stone and brick walls of the cellars of former commercial buildings, such as:
Kramy Bolesławowe (Bolesław’s Stalls),
Kramy Bogate (Rich Stalls),
Waga Wielka (Great Scale),
and the Cloth Hall.
A fascinating feature is the preserved fragments of cobbled pathways, which provide insight into medieval road-building techniques. Meanwhile, undisturbed soil layers—so-called “archaeological witnesses”—illustrate how the Market Square’s terrain rose over hundreds of years.
Numerous artifacts offer a glimpse into daily life in Kraków centuries ago. The exhibition includes:
medieval tools,
historic coins,
hygiene items used over 600 years ago,
clay figurines, ornaments, dice,
Tatar arrowheads,
and Eastern beads and medallions.
A particularly impressive exhibit is a 693 kg block of lead (known as a bochen), a world-class rarity that was highly valuable at the time.
While exploring the Rynek Underground, visitors can also learn about Kraków’s pre-foundation era (before its official establishment as a city). The oldest history of the site is illustrated by reconstructions of 11th-century burials, while the original foundations of 12th–13th-century huts and reconstructions of a goldsmith’s and blacksmith’s workshops depict the appearance of the pre-location settlement, destroyed during the Mongol invasion of 1241.
Visiting the “Following the European Identity of Kraków” exhibition allows you to experience the atmosphere of a medieval marketplace, complete with the sounds of bustling trade. The exhibition is further enriched by detailed models, multimedia displays, touchscreens, holograms, projections, and documentaries shown in specially arranged cellar rooms beneath the Cloth Hall.
For younger visitors, there is a dedicated play area and a mechanical puppet theater presenting the “Legend of Old Kraków.”
