Cloth Hall in Krakow - Explore Its Rich History

The Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) is the long Renaissance trading hall standing in the middle of Krakow's Main Market Square. Commerce has run through this exact spot for roughly 700 years, making it one of the oldest continuously operating market buildings in Europe, and today it pairs souvenir stalls downstairs with a serious national art collection upstairs.

History in brief

The first cloth stalls were set up here in the 13th century, soon after the city's 1257 charter. King Casimir III the Great replaced them with a Gothic hall in the 14th century. After a fire in 1555 the building was rebuilt in Renaissance style, gaining its signature attic parapet with carved mascarons, work associated with Santi Gucci and Giovanni Maria Mosca. The neo-Gothic arcades along the sides came much later, added between 1875 and 1879 to a design by Tomasz Pryliński. In 1879 the upper floor also became the first home of the National Museum in Krakow, a role it still plays.

The ground floor: the market

The central passage holds two rows of wooden stalls selling amber and silver jewelry, carved wood, leather goods, wool slippers from the mountains, chess sets and the full range of Krakow souvenirs. Prices run somewhat higher than in shops a few streets away, but the selection is dense and browsing is free; the passage also works as a shortcut across the square. Look up inside for the old knife hanging on a chain, tied to a grim local legend about the two brothers who built the unequal towers of St. Mary's.

Upstairs: the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art

The upper floor is a branch of the National Museum devoted to Polish painting and sculpture of the 19th century. Its rooms hold some of the country's most famous canvases: Jan Matejko's enormous "Prussian Homage" and "Kościuszko at Racławice", Henryk Siemiradzki's "Nero's Torches" and works by Józef Chełmoński. Even if you rarely set foot in galleries, the Matejko room repays half an hour. A terrace café on the same level looks out over the square toward St. Mary's.

Practical information

The stalls generally trade daily from morning until evening. The gallery keeps museum hours, typically Tuesday to Sunday from about 10 am, closed Mondays, with a moderate entry fee in the region of 30 PLN and reduced or free entry on certain days; check the National Museum's official site for current hours and prices. The market passage takes ten minutes, the gallery about an hour.

Getting there

The Cloth Hall stands in the center of the Main Market Square, so from anywhere in the Old Town you can walk to it within minutes; it is also a standard stop on an Old Town electric cart tour. St. Mary's Basilica faces it across the square, and the Town Hall Tower rises directly behind it.

Insider tips

• The arcades catch low, warm light in the late afternoon, which is when the classic Cloth Hall photographs are taken.
• The upstairs terrace café is one of the very few elevated spots overlooking the square.
• Amber varies widely in quality and price; compare several stalls before buying and ask for a certificate on larger pieces.
• The passage gets crowded from late morning onward; before 10 am you can browse in peace.
• The gallery is a reliable rainy-day plan, rarely as busy as the square outside.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Cloth Hall free to enter?

Walking the ground-floor market passage is free. Only the art gallery on the upper floor requires a ticket.

What can I buy at the Cloth Hall?

Amber and silver jewelry, carved wooden boxes, leather goods, wool slippers, chess sets and standard souvenirs. Quality varies by stall, so compare before you commit.

What art is in the gallery upstairs?

The Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art, a branch of the National Museum, including major works by Jan Matejko, Henryk Siemiradzki and Józef Chełmoński.

Why is it called the Cloth Hall?

It was built for the cloth trade. Medieval merchants sold textiles here under royal privilege, and the name survived every rebuild since the 13th century.

Is the Cloth Hall a UNESCO site?

It is part of the historic center of Krakow, which was inscribed on the first UNESCO World Heritage list in 1978.