The Cloth Hall, located in the heart of Krakow’s Market Square, is one of the city’s most recognisable symbols. The building, which has witnessed numerous historical transformations, served for centuries as an important commercial centre and today is one of the key tourist and cultural points of Cracow. Years of neglect led the monument to ruin, from which it was raised by 19th century reconstruction. The building was then given its present monumental form.
The origins of the Cloth Hall date back to 1257, when Duke Boleslaw Wstydliwy, granting municipal rights to Krakow, undertook to build stone cloth stalls. The first Cloth Halls were simple wooden stalls, which over time evolved into brick buildings with a roof, creating a market hall in the shape of a double row of stalls. They survived until the mid-14th century, when King Casimir III the Great commissioned the construction of a new Gothic edifice. In 1358, the Gothic Cloth Hall was completed. It was a monumental hall 108 metres long and 10 metres wide, with rows of stalls on both sides. Characteristic elements were the pointed arcades and the vaults, which added to the majesty of the building. In this form, the Cloth Hall survived until 1555, when it was destroyed by fire.
The Market Square with the Cloth Hall and former Town Hall, early 19th century. Source: Museum of Cracow
The reconstruction of the Cloth Hall after the fire of 1555 became one of the most important projects of Renaissance Krakow. The work lasted from 1556 to 1559 and was led by Master Pankracy. It was then that the Cloth Hall received its characteristic attic with mascarons by Santi Gucci and column loggias designed by Giovanni Maria Padovano. In 1601, an additional passageway was pierced, which is still an important architectural feature of the building today.
By the end of the 19th century, the Cloth Hall was in a very poor state of repair. In the years 1875-1879, the building was rebuilt to a design by Tomasz Prylinski. The adjacent stalls and buildings were demolished. The lower hall was transformed into a line of wooden market stalls arranged along the walls and decorated in 1895 with the coats of arms of Polish cities, guild emblems and seals. Upstairs, rooms were created for museum purposes. As part of the works, risalits on the east-west axis and one-storey arcades were also added. At the tops of the risalits on the eastern side, mascarons were placed representing the caricatures of the mayors of Krakow – Józef Dietl and Mikołaj Zyblikiewicz.
Today, the Cloth Hall is one of Krakow’s most important tourist attractions. The lower part of the building still has stalls selling souvenirs, jewellery and handicrafts. The first floor houses the Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art, presenting works by the most outstanding Polish artists of the period. The Sukiennice is also a venue for various cultural and social events. Since 2010, a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Cracow – the Underground of the Main Market Square – has been operating in the basement of the Cloth Hall. It is a modern exhibition that allows visitors to discover the history of Krakow through interactive installations and authentic artefacts.
The Cloth Hall is not only a symbol of Kraków’s magnificent Renaissance, but also a place that has witnessed key historical events over the centuries. As one of the most important sites in Kraków, the Cloth Hall continues to attract tourists from all over the world, offering a unique combination of history, culture and commerce.
Source: krakow.travel, zabytkikrakowa.com.pl
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Kraków | Metamorphosis | Renovation | Monument
