St. Mary's Square

St Mary's square is one of the most picturesque places in Krakow. However, only a few people know that two hundred years ago this place looked totally different.

In the 13th century, while St. Mary's Church was being built, next to it the Parish Cemetery was established. In 1338 Mikołaj Wierzynek (one of the 14th century Krakow's VIPs) built a chapel devoted to St Barbara. The Cemetery was functioning for almost six hundred years and then, in the beginning of XIX century, almost all of the burials were translated to the new Cemetary in Rakowice (small village situated next to Krakow). Figure of Our Lady which was part of the main gate to the cemetery was moved to the Planty and now it's standing near Collegium Novum.



Today only epitaphs that are on the walls of the churches and houses and a small carving on the wall of the house nr 8 prove that St. Mary's Square used to be the place of eternal rest for the Krakow's citizens.



Nowadays the square is decorated with a fountain called "pigeons' well". Statue of a student which stands at the top is simply a copy of one of Veit Stoss's figures from the St Mary's Altar. Fountain was founded in 1958 by Krakow's craftsmen.

What to do and what to see in the St Mary's square

-St Mary's square is a perfect place to listen to the Bugle Call, acoustics of this place is superb

-On the wall of the house nr 8 you can find a carving done by Veit Stoss presenting Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Unfortunately it's a copy, original carving is presented in the Palace of Bishop Erazm Ciołek

-You can join the Free Walking Tour. It starts every single day at 11.00 am.