Historic Centre of Kraków


World Heritage Identification Number: 29

World Heritage since: 1978

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇵🇱 Poland

Continent: Europe

UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America

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The Historic Centre of Kraków: A Cultural Treasure Trove

The Historic Centre of Kraków, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Poland. Situated at the foot of the majestic Royal Wawel Castle, this historic centre serves as the former capital of the country and offers a captivating blend of architectural styles, historical landmarks, and vibrant urban life.

More to come…

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The Historic Centre of Kraków, the former capital of Poland, is situated at the foot of the Royal Wawel Castle. The 13th-century merchants' town has Europe's largest market square and numerous historical houses, palaces and churches with their magnificent interiors. Further evidence of the town's fascinating history is provided by the remnants of the 14th-century fortifications and the medieval site of Kazimierz with its ancient synagogues in the southern part of town, Jagellonian University and the Gothic cathedral where the kings of Poland were buried.

Encyclopedia Record: Kraków Old Town

Kraków Old Town is the historic part of the city of Kraków within the Planty Park, Poland.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 149.65 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape

Coordinates: 50.0613888889 , 19.9372222222

Image

Image of Historic Centre of Kraków

© Lestat (Jan Mehlich), CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Country Information: Poland

Flag of Poland

Official Name: Republic of Poland

Capital: Warsaw

Continent: Europe

Population (2024): 36,554,707

Population (2023): 36,687,353

Population (2022): 36,821,749

Land Area: 306,100 sq km

Currency: Polish złoty (PLN)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Historic Centre of Kraków are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Kraków Old Town, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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