I.

Introduction

Kraków or Cracow (German, Krakau), city in southern Poland, capital of Małopolskie Province, on the Wisła River. The city is an industrial, cultural, and educational centre of southern Poland. Population 760,300 (2005 estimate).

II.

Economy

Kraków is at the heart of trade in coal, zinc, salt, timber, cattle, agricultural produce, and wine. The most important industry in the city is the production of iron and steel in the Nowa Huta plant, one of the largest industrial complexes in eastern Europe. Other industrial establishments include plants manufacturing machinery, agricultural machinery, soap, and tobacco. A network of road and rail lines connects Kraków with Warsaw and other Polish cities, and with Prague.

III.

Places of Interest

Kraków consists of an inner town and several suburbs; the inner town was surrounded by walls during the Middle Ages, but is now encircled by promenades. The city contains a large number of historic buildings. The most notable is the Gothic cathedral, consecrated in 1359 and dedicated to the memory of St Stanislas, the patron saint of Poland, who was slain before the cathedral altar in 1079 by order of Boleslav II, the Polish king. The cathedral was long the site of the coronation ceremonies of the kings of Poland and is the burial place of men famous in Polish history, including King John III Sobieski, the revolutionary patriot Thaddeus Kosciusko, the poet Adam Mickiewicz, and the statesman Józef Piłsudski. Other notable buildings are the church of St Mary, a Gothic edifice dating from 1223, containing a celebrated altar executed by the German sculptor Veit Stoss, an outstanding artist of 14th-century Europe; and the Royal Wawel Castle, begun in the 13th century and subsequently enlarged. A Gothic tower is all that remains of the medieval town hall. Among the important educational and cultural institutions in the city are the University of Kraków (1364), Kraków Technical University (1945), several scientific institutes, and the National Art Museum. Kraków is also an important music and theatre centre. Local traditions include the yearly Christmas crib show. The historic centre of the city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Another Heritage Site, the 13th-century salt mines of Wieliczka (inscribed in 1978), is nearby.

IV.

History

The origin of Kraków is unknown, but the city is believed to be one of the oldest in Poland. According to tradition, it was founded as a fortress around ad 700. In the 12th century it became the capital of the kingdom of Poland and an important commercial centre. Tatar invaders of Europe sacked Kraków in 1241; German colonists later revived the city. In 1430 it became a member of the Hanseatic League. During the early part of the 17th century the capital of Poland was moved from Kraków to Warsaw. In 1794, during the French Revolution, Kraków was the centre of a revolutionary uprising led by Kościuzko, and in 1795 it was seized by Austria. Fourteen years later, Napoleon incorporated the city into the duchy of Warsaw. Following Napoleon's downfall, the Congress of Vienna in 1815 made Kraków the capital of the independent republic of Kraków. This republic was incorporated into Austria in 1846. In 1914, during World War I, the city was the scene of heavy fighting between Austro-German and Russian forces. After the war Kraków once more became a Polish city. During World War II it was occupied by the Germans until 1945, when it was taken by Soviet troops.