Stare Podgórze District

The Stare Podgórze district, memory and renewal in Cracow

On the other side of the Vistula, the Stare Podgórze district offers a more traditional and less touristy atmosphere than Kazimierz. It was here that the Jewish ghetto of Cracow was established in 1941. The Cracow audio-guided tour lingers here with gravity, to evoke a tragic page of history and discover a district now in full renewal.

The authentic Jewish ghetto of Cracow

It was here, and not in Kazimierz, that the Nazi regime created the Jewish ghetto of Cracow on 3 March 1941, to confine the city's Jews. About 600 by 400 metres, the district was surrounded by a wall. Several witnesses of this history remain, including Ghetto Heroes Square, the Pharmacy under the Eagle and the Schindler factory, which make Stare Podgórze an essential memorial site.

What to see

Beyond the memorial sites, Stare Podgórze appeals through its authentic atmosphere and its alternative renewal, between cafés, workshops and the banks of the Vistula. The district today blends the weight of history and the energy of a creative scene. It is a powerful stage in the visit of Cracow, inviting you to understand the past while discovering a lively district, far from the crowds of the old town.

Practical information

The Stare Podgórze district lies south of the Vistula, facing Kazimierz, in Cracow, reachable on foot via the bridges or by tram. The district is freely explored on foot; the various memorial sites and museums it houses each have their own hours and access conditions, variable by season, to be checked before visiting.

Why is the Podgórze district important in Cracow's history?

It was here that the Nazi regime established, on 3 March 1941, the Jewish ghetto of Cracow; the district keeps several major memorial sites of that period.

What is the atmosphere of Stare Podgórze today?

More traditional and less touristy than Kazimierz, the district is experiencing an alternative renewal, between memorial sites, cafés, workshops and the banks of the Vistula.