Town Hall Tower, Krakow

Slanting about 55 centimeters, the Town Hall Tower stands proudly as Krakow鈥檚 own Leaning Tower. This towering Gothic structure measures 70 meters in height and singularly garners the attention of those visiting the Main Square.

This lean structure adorned the city during the late 13th century and has stood ground ever since, enduring tribulations of passing time. The lonely structure that stands today was initially built to accompany a magnificent Town Hall that was demolished for the purposes of opening up the Main Square in 1820. Built in Gothic-style, the Town Hall was used as a prison and even contained medieval torture chambers.

The Tower's most attractive feature, its helmet, has been replaced thrice in the history of its existence. Initially, the Tower bore a beautiful Gothic top which was brought down by lightning in 1680. This was replaced by an ornate Baroque helmet designed by Piotr Beber which crumbled down in 1783. Post that, a smaller helmet replaced the tower top that presently covers the top of the Town Hall.

Today one can enjoy a hot brewed cup of coffee in the basement of the Tower that once contained outlaws of the city. The Tower also offers its visitors one of the finest views of the city and some vintage photographs that can take you through the history of Krakow.

Tip:
Fairly tricky climb up steps that are quite steep & deep so not for those with bad knees or little legs.
Don鈥檛 miss the giant bronze head located just outside the entrance.
View at the penultimate stop with pretty stained windows is great.
Free admission on Mondays!

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Krakow. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Town Hall Tower
Sight Location: Krakow, Poland (See walking tours in Krakow)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Krakow Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Krakow, Poland

Create Your Own Walk in Krakow

Creating your own self-guided walk in Krakow is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Krakow Introduction Walking Tour

A unique entry on the list of the World Heritage Sights, Krakow is a recognized center of the academic, artistic and cultural life of Poland. Established in the 7th century as a tiny hamlet at the top of the Wawel Hill, overlooking the Vistula River, it is one of the country's oldest cities. Over the course of the next fifteen centuries it has evolved into the nation's second-largest... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Jewish Heritage Tour in Krakow

The Jewish community has been an integral part of Krakow since the late 13th century. On the eve of World War II, there were 60,000 Jews living in the city, mostly in the historic Kazimierz neighborhood, which accounted for a quarter of the local population. The old town square in Kazimierz was the center of Jewish life.

During the war, the Nazis separated ethnic Jews from the rest of... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Historical House Museums Tour

Well-preserved historical buildings can often tell the stories of their city more vividly than any history book. Krakow, the old capital and cultural center of Poland, for many years, has been the home of many important Poles. Today, their former residences have been converted into house museums where visitors can learn about their inhabitants and see what life was like in the past.

One such... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

Historical Churches Walking Tour

Krakow, the center of religious life in Poland, was once considered 鈥渢he Northern Rome鈥� for its multitude of churches. Alongside the new temples continuing to appear in the city today, these remarkable sanctuaries, holding deep historical and cultural significance, still remain the most attractive and interesting to look at.

By far the most iconic of these is the Basilica of Saint Mary. A... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles

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