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The Royal Road

The so-called Krakow Royal Road (or Royal Route) - “Droga Królewska” in Polish – is a traditional route linking the entrance to the medieval city with the King's Castle. Having mostly an economical purpose in the past as a road the merchants would take through Krakow, it is now used mostly by tourists who, along the Royal Road, can find some of the most important Krakow landmarks.

The Royal Route is probably the best choice for a first sight of Krakow, starting within a five-minute-walk from the Krakow Train Station, and being short enough to cover in one day.

The Beginnings of the Royal Route

The Royal Road begins on the Jan Matejko square, near the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts. One enters the city through the historic Florianska Gate, which, along with the wonderful Barbican and remaining City Walls is a remainder of the fortress Krakow used to be, before the walls and the moat were done away with in the 19^th century making room for the Planty Park. The next step is Florianska Street, one of the most known streets in Krakow, with Jan Matejko's house, the Pharmacy Museum and the famous Jama Michalikowa Cafe to see.

Main Square

Florianska street leads right to the Main Square (the Rynek), the biggest in Europe. The first thing one sees is the Mariacki Church, Krakow's Gothic jewel with a magnificent altarpiece by Veit Stoss, and the famous Krakow Buggle Call played out every full hour. Right in the middle of the Rynek are the immense Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) and the Town Hall Tower – deprived of the Hall itself which was destroyed during the Austro-Hungarian occupation, but offering a great overview of the Old Town from its top. Before leaving the Main Square one should definitely take a closer look at the St. Adelbert's Church – a tiny yet beautiful piece of baroque architecture.

From the Main Square to the Wawel

The Royal Road leaves the Main Square via Grodzka Street, the only one not to form a right angle with any of the others. Passing through the Plac Wszystkich Swietych one should take a look left- and rightwards, to see the Dominican and the Franciscan Churches – and visit at least one of them. Right on the Plac Wszystkich Swietych stands the Wyspianski 2000 pavilion, gathering the artist's unfinished stained glass projects among other interesting exhibits. Shortly after, the Royal Road takes a quick right turn to the Kanonicza Street, one of Krakow's oldest, with marvelous architecture and the Archdiocese Museum with a collection of John Paul II's personal belongings and memoirs.

The Wawel Hill

The Royal Route ends here, but this ending may well take more than half of the time of the whole road. The Wawel Castle, with its Royal Chambers, Armory and other exhibitions is just one thing. Then there's the Wawel Cathedral with the magnificent Sigismund Chapel and a certain must-see for the kids: the Krakow Dragon's Den along with the Krakow Dragon itself waiting on the far end.