Kraków’s Medieval Defenses 🏰⚔️ - The Barbican & St. Florian’s Gate

📍 The Mighty Barbican (1499) • Europe’s largest & most beautiful Gothic barbican—24.4m wide, with 3m-thick walls and 130 murder holes for pouring boiling water on invaders! • Only 3 survive in Europe (others: Carcassonne, France & Görlitz, Germany). • Fun Fact: Its 24m moat was filled in during urban expansion—now part of Planty Park’s greenery. 🌳 🚪 St. Florian’s Gate (1307) • Last standing gate of Kraków’s original 8 medieval gates, rebuilt with a Baroque copper dome after Swedish attacks. • Royal Road Start: Kings & ambassadors entered the city here, marching toward Wawel Castle. • Today: Adjacent walls host an open-air art market by art students! 🎨 📸 Nearby Gems: ✅ Czartoryski Museum: Home to Da Vinci’s "Lady with an Ermine". ✅ Planty Park: A 4km green belt replacing the old city walls. #KrakowHistory #MedievalArchitecture #PolandTravel #HiddenGems