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Botanical Gardens

Most people find botanical gardens boring – and it's really hard to disagree. No matter if it's in Barcelona or Krakow, Spain, France or Poland, a botanical garden will hardly ever surprise you. It's not like a zoo – “hey, I visited the Krakow Zoo, and a llama spat on me! I hate Poland, that animal ruined my dress!” - one just can't think of a fascinating story about a botanical garden that couldn't happen virtually anywhere else.

Tired of Krakow? Visit the Botanical Garden!

But there are times when a bit of boring quietness is more than needed, for Krakow can be a tiring place, especially for those who want to see it all. A tour of the Wawel Castle, short walk to the Main Square, a few museums, a bus ride to Nowa Huta, then a quick walk around Kazimierz, and you're so exhausted that you can't even recall your own name anymore, but you still have about two hours before your train.

Here it is then, the Krakow Botanical Garden to the rescue! Situated next to Rondo Mogilskie, two tram stops away from the Krakow Train Station, it's the perfect place for spending some peaceful time with all the Krakow landmarks and the traffic out of sight.

After a while, when your sightseeing-tired eyes get used to the green scenery, you might even want to know something about the history of the Krakow Botanical Garden. Here it is: the Botanical Garden in Krakow (bearing the lengthy name of the Botanical Garden of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow) is the oldest one in Poland, at least when it comes to those still existing. It was created in 1783 for the Jagiellonian University's medical faculty, on a parcel bought some 40 years earlier by the Jesuits from the Czartoryski family (yes, the same one that owns the Czartoryski Museum). Its area grew until the 1950s, when it reached 9.5 hectares.

Plants and Architecture in the Krakow Botanical Garden

From the few buildings that can be seen in the University Garden, perhaps the most interesting one is the former astronomical observatory, built there between 1788 and 1792. Its current form is a result of a refurbishment that took place in 1859. The place now serves as a botanical museum and one of the colleges of the Jagiellonian University, called Collegium Sniadeckiego, after the first head of the observatory, Jan Sniadecki.

As for the plants, it's certain that the connoisseurs will be satisfied with the collection. The amateurs, on the other hand, can still count on finding something spectacular, namely the nearly 300-year-old Jagiellonian Oak and a nice collection of carnivorous plants.

Botanical Garden's Opening Hours

Those seeking peace in the green should have caution, though: the Krakow Botanical Garden is open only from mid-April to mid-October, from 9a.m. to 7p.m., and closes earlier from September on. No pets or bicycles are allowed, although the latter can be left in front of the Collegium Sniadeckiego.

And one more thing: the staff warns not to touch the plants inside the Botanical Garden – “for your own safety”. So you might be in for a thrill after all...