Kraków
Kraków
Main Market Square
Flag
Coat of arms
Kraków
Coordinates: 50°3′41″N 19°56′18″E /
50.06139°N 19.93833°E / 50.06139; 19.93833
Country
Poland
Voivodeship
Lesser Poland
County
city county
City rights
5 June 1257
Government
- Mayor
Jacek Majchrowski
Area
- City
327 km2 (126.3 sq mi)
Elevation
219 m (719 ft)
Population (2008)
- City
756,441
- Density
2,313.3/km2 (5,991.4/
sq mi)
- Metro
1.25 mln
Time zone
CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code
30-024 to 31-962
Area code(s)
+48 12
Car plates
KR
Demonym
Cracovian
Website
http://www.krakow.pl/
Kraków (pronounced [ˈkrakuf] (
listen); in
English also spelled Krakow or Cracow, pro-
nounced /ˈkɹækaʊ/ (
listen)) is one of the
largest and oldest cities in Poland, with a
population of 756,441 (2008).[1] Situated on
the Vistula river (Polish: Wisła) in the Lesser
Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th
century.[2] It was the capital of Poland from
1038 to 1596, the capital of the Grand Duchy
of Kraków from 1846 to 1918, and the capital
of Kraków Voivodeship from the 14th century
to 1999. It is now the capital of the Lesser
Poland Voivodeship.
Kraków has traditionally been one of the
leading centres of Polish scientific, cultural
and artistic life. As the former national capit-
al with a history encompassing more than a
thousand years, the city remains the spiritual
heart of Poland. It is a major attraction for
local and international tourists, attracting
seven million visitors annually. Famous land-
marks include the Main Market Square with
St. Mary’s Basilica and the Sukiennice Cloth
Hall, the Wawel Castle, the National Art Mu-
seum, the Zygmunt Bell at
the Wawel
Cathedral, and the medieval St Florian’s Gate
with the Barbican along the Royal Coronation
Route. In 1978 Kraków’s historic centre,
which includes the Old Town, Kazimierz and
the Wawel Castle was included in the list of
World Heritage Sites.
History
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kraków
1
Early history
A settlement was established in the Stone
Age on the present site of the Wawel H