Sukiennice

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The Kraków Sukiennice

The Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) located in Kraków, Poland, is one of the city's most recognisable icons. As the name suggests, the Cloth Hall was once a major centre of trade. Merchants would meet there to discuss business and to barter with each other. During its golden age, in the 15th century, it was the source of a variety of exotic goods from the East - spices, silk, leather, wax - while the city itself exported textiles, lead and of course salt from the Royal Mines in Wieliczka.

Kraków as the Royal Capital was amongst the most magnificent cities in Europe. The prosperity was not to last; the city's decline was hastened by wars and political ineptitude. By the time restoration was proposed for the Hall in 1870, much of the historic city centre was decrepit. Nevertheless, a change in political fortunes for the Galicians ushered in a renaissance of sorts - the successful renovation of the Cloth Hall was one of the proudest achievements of this era.

The Kraków Sukiennice, with the medieval Town Hall Tower (Ratusz) to the right.

The Cloth Hall has hosted countless distinguished guests over the centuries and it is still used to entertain monarchs and dignitaries to this day. Both Prince Charles and Emperor Hirohito of Japan were welcomed here in 2002. In times gone by balls were held here, most famously after Prince Józef Poniatowski liberated the city from the Austrians in 1809. Despite its grand history and great cultural value, the hall still flourishes as a bustling centre of commerce; albeit the items offered for sale are radically different from those of previous centuries, mainly the souvenirs for tourists.

Sukiennince interior

NOTE: Other cloth halls have existed in other Polish cities as well as in Ypres, Belgium, and in Braunschweig, Germany, though the one in Kraków is the best known and best preserved.