The coat of arms of Poland’s former capital is topped with a crown. It is missing the jewels of the towns and villages that surround it, even though Kraków wouldn’t be Kraków without them.
Marek Mikos
Kraków Culture
Cracovian dragon
Had this article been written a few centuries ago, I’d have to start by saying that Kraków was a city granted its status in 1257, grown from a royal fortress on Wawel Hill and surrounded by numerous satellite towns and villages.
The names of the settlements reflect the occupations of local residents: Konary was home to horse breeders and handlers, Łagiewniki is where vessels, beer and mead were made, Rzeszotary made sieves for grain and flour, Podstolice supplied serving staff, soap was made in Mydlniki, while Skotniki was home to cattle breeders. And there’s more: Owczary was home to sheep breeders, Piekary – bakers, Rybitwy – fishermen, Złotniki – goldsmiths, Korabniki – shipwrights…
As it expanded rapidly, Kraków was like the insatiable Wawel dragon and gradually absorbed the surrounding villages with their residents. Once upon a time the city covered just 5.57 square kilometres and its population remained under 20,000 for many years; today, it’s a whopping 327 square kilometres with 780,000 residents. Kraków is surrounded by 14 communes – independent entities with increasingly close economic, demographic and transport ties with the capital of Małopolska. They also provide fresh cultural, tourist and landscape experiences outside the main city. Together with Kraków, they form the Metropolitan Area, showcasing the ties and common interests across many fields.
A metropolis of opportunities
The past has left numerous traces – historic castles, palaces, manors, churches – while nature has bestowed the region with beautiful landscapes. Just half an hour’s drive from Kraków takes you to the picturesque Ojcowski National Park, gorgeous valleys, caves open to tourists, rolling hills of the Pogórze Wielickie, nature reserves and the ancient Niepołomice Forest. But it’s not just about the wonders of nature.
“Kraków’s surrounds are teeming with cultural life, and many local events have been attracting vast audiences for many years”, says Robert Piaskowski, Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of the City of Kraków for Culture and advocate of opening Kraków and its residents to cultural events beyond the city. “There are events such as the Carrot Half-Marathon in Zielonki, the Wielkowiejski Fair and outdoor performances by folk ensembles and food festivals – perfect in their natural setting. The Metropolitan Area also hosts the annual Korzkiew Music Festival held at a 14th-century castle and concerts and exhibitions at the Wieliczka salt mine and Saltworks Castle. Niepołomice hosts outdoor events at the beautiful local meadow, while Michałowice is famous for events recalling Józef Piłsudski’s Cadre Company.”
“The attractions of the Kraków Metropolitan Area should be more widely known. Since June, we have been publishing local information under the ‘Metropolitan Area’ tab on the Kraków Culture – Karnet portal,” adds Daniel Wrzoszczyk, Director of the Kraków Metropolitan Area Office. “We have joined forces with the Krakow Festival Office to stress that the communes within the Metropolitan Area operate as a single organism. We bring a wide range of fresh, inspiring ideas at the fingertips of Kraków’s residents.”
Let’s go!
Autumn is the perfect time to explore Kraków’s surrounds. You can do it on foot, by bike, by train, by car – even by plane, since the Balice international airport is in the Zabierzów commune within the metropolitan area! Time to explore! Take a look at our (subjective) list of Seven Wonders of the Kraków Metropolitan Area.
- Wieliczka Salt Mine – a stunning site with a UNESCO World Heritage Site listing. Salt extracted in Wieliczka was one of the main sources of income for the Polish Crown for many centuries.
- Niepołomice Forest – home to a wild population of European bison, Europe’s largest surviving mammals. It has extensive recreational routes adapted for all abilities.
- Bolechowicka Valley (Zabierzów commune) – opens with the imposing limestone Bolechowicka Gate. A true paradise for walkers and climbers – 108 climbing routes!
- Wierzchowska Cave (Wielka Wieś commune) features a kilometre-long route meandering through karst corridors and caverns – straight from a fairytale!
- Benedictine Sisters Convent in Staniątki (Niepołomice commune) – visit to experience Benedictine spirituality, beautiful historic interiors and the hospitality of the convent’s nuns, and sample their delicious preserves, organic sweets and cakes.
- Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross in Łazany (Biskupice commune) – the former church was replaced with the current brick building in the 16th century. An ancient oak is preserved inside, and the reinforced trunk serves has a recess for the monstrance.
- Hornbeam Avenue (Mogilany commune) – the park of the Konopka manor in Mogilany has a stunning Italian garden and a 160 metre long avenue lined by centuries-old hornbeam trees.
And that’s just the start – there are plenty more local treasures to explore!
