Kraków

Kraków is the second-largest city in Poland.

It is officially called the Royal Capital City of Kraków. The city sits on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. As of 2023, the city has a population of 804,237 people.

An additional 8 million people live within a nearby radius. Kraków is a global city with a ranking of "high sufficiency."

It serves as a major center for Polish academic and artistic life.

The city's history began as a fortified settlement, or gród.

This settlement was on Wawel Hill around the 8th century. It was home to the Vistulans, a Lechitic tribe. Legend says a ruler named Krakus founded the city.

He supposedly built the town above a cave used by a dragon. The first written record of the name appeared in 965. At that time, it was a notable commercial center. By 1038, Kraków became the official seat of the Polish government.

Kraków grew through various historical stages and dynasties. In 1257, High Duke Bolesław V the Chaste granted the city new rights. These rights were modeled on the Magdeburg law. This allowed for trade privileges and tax benefits for citizens.

In 1335, King Casimir III the Great founded the district of Kazimierz.

He also founded the University of Kraków in 1364. This became one of the oldest universities in the world. The city flourished under the Jagiellonian dynasty as a member of the Hanseatic League.

The 15th and 16th centuries were known as Poland's Golden Age.

During this time, many Renaissance works were created. The Jewish quarter in Kazimierz saw the building of many synagogues.

In 1473, the first work was printed in Poland in the city. The city's importance changed in 1596. King Sigismund III moved the royal court to Warsaw. This moved the administrative center of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth away from Kraków.

Kraków faced many hardships during the 17th to 19th centuries. The city was pillaged during the Swedish invasion in the 1650s. In 1707, an outbreak of bubonic plague killed 20,000 residents. Later, the city was partitioned by neighbors like Russia and the Habsburg Empire.

In 1815, the Congress of Vienna created the Free City of Kraków.

This was a partially independent and neutral city-state. It remained the only piece of sovereign Polish territory for a time. However, political instability led to the Kraków uprising in 1846.

The 20th century brought more significant challenges. During World War II, the city became the seat of the Nazi General Government.

The Jewish population was forced into the Kraków Ghetto. This was a walled zone. Residents were later sent to extermination camps like Auschwitz or concentration camps like Płaszów.

Despite this violence, the city was spared from total destruction. In 1978, Karol Wojtyła became Pope John Paul II. He was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years.

Today, Kraków is a major cultural and academic hub.

Its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This was one of the first sites to receive that status in 1978. The city features Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture.

Notable sites include Wawel Royal Castle and St. Mary's Basilica. The city also has the largest medieval market square in Europe.

It is a UNESCO City of Literature and a former European Capital of Culture.

Modern Kraków is well-connected to the rest of the world.

The John Paul II International Airport is the second busiest in Poland. It is a vital airport for south-eastern Poland. The city also hosts large international events. These include World Youth Day in 2016 and the European Games in 2023.

The city remains a center for science, art, and global tourism.