Plac Wolnica — Attraction in Krakow

Until the 12th century, this area was separated from Krakow by the Vistula riverbed flowing through today's Dietla and Daszyńskiego Streets. Later, the river created a new, current flow path, creating an island among its own backwaters, additionally protected by swamps. Settlement began to develop more or less in parallel with Kraków. First, on a rocky hill, and then in the village of Bawół situated to the east of today's Wolnica Square, later transformed into a village and then incorporated into Kazimierz.

On February 27, 1335, King Casimir the Great, residing in Sandomierz, issued the foundation act of the new city. Kazimierz was founded on the Vistula island. City of the name of its founder. By this act, the monarch intended to create natural competition for the capital city of Krakow, transferring to it less representative functions. But the ruler also had far-reaching plans for the new organism. Kazimierz did not like Krakow inhabited by the German population, he remembered the rebellion of mayor Albert, which his father, Władysław Łokietek, had to deal with. It is here, in a truly Polish city, according to Jan Długosz's account, the first Polish university, later designated as the Jagiellonian University, was to be established. This fact is commemorated by a plaque in the building no. At Wolnica Square.

Kazimierz was given a trapezoidal plan, due to the shape of the island, measuring 50 by 900 meters. The city was surrounded by a single battlement wall, and four gates led to it: Gliniana, Wielicka, Bocheńska and Skawińska. From the side of Krakow, the royal bridge led to the city. In 1340, the village of Bawół, located near today's Szeroka Street, was incorporated into Kazimierz. There is a market square in the very center of the town. Like the king's university plans, the size of the market square was supposed to testify to the position of the new city. The Kazimierz market square was 195 meters square, which is only five meters less than the capital square. This is how the center was created. In the foundation act, the ruler undertook, in accordance with the provisions of the Magdeburg law, to found the town hall, the shearing house, the cloth hall and the weight building. In addition, the king granted the city the privilege of forum liberum, which allowed, on Saturday days, to trade meat outside slaughterhouses by people not gathered in guilds. The name of this privilege was translated into Polish, and so slowly the term “wolnica” started to take root. It wasn't until the middle of the century that the traditional name was officially recognized as valid. The main artery, which became part of the trade route leading from Kraków to Wieliczka and Myślenice, ran through the square. It was called Krakowska Street - Platea Cracoviensis, and its southern part was called the Wielicka Road. This trail will leave its echo in the...

Boring little square turned into a parking lot. The fountain isn't working, there are town drunks everywhere. The only think that might save this place are good restaurants and bars around it. It's so depressing that the only think you want to do it to get drunk and throw yourself off the...

W XIV wieku za sprawą króla Kazimierza Wielkiego kilka osad podkrakowskch połączyło się w miasto pod nazwą Kazimierz. Miasto musiało mieć swój rynek, plac Wolnica to okrojona pozostałość po tym rynku.Pośrodku widzimy ratusz Kazimierski, obecnie siedziba muzeum etnograficznego. Plac Wolnica należy do Kazimierza, obecnie dzielnicy Krakowa.Dzielnicy o bolesnej i tragicznej historii związanej z zagładą w czasie II wojny swiatowej jej mieszkańców, społeczności żydowskiej. Od połowy lat 90- tych XX wieku do smutnej, zaniedbane dzielnicy duchów wróciło życie.Pełno tu klimatycznych kawiarenek i pubów, etnicznych knajpek i barów,galerii sztuki.Plac Wolnica nie stanowi już centrum tego nowego życia.Centrum przeniosło się na Plac Nowy, mniejszy i brzydszy, ale o...