Amongst many other great buildings in Market Square, The large and small churches hold their own. The Church of St. Adalbert is not only the smallest church in Kraków,but it  is also one of the oldest churches in Poland. This place of worship preceded the Square by nearly a century. Archaeological finds include relics of a wooden structure built at the end of the 10th century, followed by the original stone church constructed in the 11th century, named after the martyred missionary Saint Aldabert.  Legend has it that St. Adalbert consecrated the church in 997 and preached there before embarking on his mission to bring Christianity to Prussia, where he was killed in martyrdom. His body was bought for its weight in gold from pagan Prussia, brought back and placed in Gniezno Cathedral by Boleslaus I of Poland.  The tiny interior of the church makes this small building feel like a jewel box, as the altar is black and edged with gilt. Baroque-styled golden angels fly from above. Henry and I attended a very intimate chamber music concert here one evening. On the same end of Market Square opposite the diminuitive Church of St. Adalbert, is  St. Mary’s Basilica, a grand brick and stone church,  the higher of the two unmatched 15th-century towers rising to 80 meters/262 feet. The church was the main temple of medieval Kraków and is one of the most important Gothic architectural monuments in Poland. To really enjoy the ambience of this Medieval square, we made a point of being there on the hour. This is when the trumpeter sounds his bugle call from the upper tower of St. Mary’s Basilica, the melody of which is suddenly interrupted ... silenced. This tradition commemorates the death of a trumpeter who was shot with an enemy arrow. Nestled in the shadows of this great Gothic monument is a more discreet building, the Church of St. Barbara, the apse of which is visible from the Small Market Square.

PHOTOS: Top Two 1. Closeup view of the cupola of St. Mary’s Church. 2. Church of St. Adalbert, the oldest church in Kraków.  Bottom: Small Market Square situated behind Market Square. The rooftop of St. Mary’s Church can be seen on the far right, while the back of the Church of St. Barbara stands in the middle in red. It is tucked into a small street off the square that separates it from its larger neighbor.  Far Right: St. Mary’s Church with its unmatched towers.

JOURDAN ARPELLE-ZIEGLER                                   BACK TO MAP  PAGE