Wolnica Square

Wolnica Square, the former market square of Kazimierz

Wolnica Square occupies part of the former market square of Kazimierz, once an independent town. Located on the salt road from the Wieliczka mines, it was long the administrative and commercial centre of the city. The Cracow audio-guided tour stops here to evoke the prosperous past of this district, long before its attachment to Cracow.

The heart of the former town of Kazimierz

Originally, the square was twice as large as today and formed the centre of the Christian town of Kazimierz, distinct from Szeroka Street, the heart of the Jewish town. On this salt road passed the riches that made the city prosperous. The former town hall, bordering the square, now houses a museum, a witness to the past importance of this place of power and commerce.

What to see

Wolnica Square, more peaceful than the other places of Kazimierz, keeps the charm of a former urban centre. You admire the former town hall and the imposing Corpus Christi church nearby, which dominated the Christian square. It is a space of life and culture, ideal for understanding the historical duality of Kazimierz, shared between its Christian and Jewish communities.

Practical information

Wolnica Square lies in the Kazimierz district of Cracow, reachable on foot and by tram. It is a public space open at all times, freely accessible and on the level. The museum housed in the former town hall has its own hours and entry conditions, variable by season, to be checked before visiting.

What was the function of Wolnica Square?

It was the administrative and commercial centre of the former town of Kazimierz, on the salt road from the Wieliczka mines, and far larger than today.

What is there to see around Wolnica Square?

The former town hall, now a museum, and the imposing Corpus Christi church nearby, which marked the heart of the Christian part of Kazimierz.