Podgórze (Ghetto District) in Kraków: What to See & History

Podgórze is the district on the south bank of the Vistula where the Nazi German occupiers established the Krakow Ghetto in March 1941. Today it is a quiet residential neighborhood in which memorials stand among tenement houses and tram lines: the 70 empty chairs on Ghetto Heroes Square, surviving fragments of the ghetto wall, the Eagle Pharmacy and, a short walk away, Schindler's Factory. It is also a rewarding district in its own right, with a handsome market square, a neo-Gothic church and one of the best viewpoints in the city.

What it is

Podgórze began as a separate town, founded under Austrian rule in 1784, and was joined to Krakow in 1915. It faces Kazimierz across the river, connected today by the Father Bernatek footbridge. For visitors, the district has two layers: the memorial landscape of the wartime ghetto around Plac Bohaterów Getta, and the everyday town around Podgórski Market Square, the riverside and Krakus Mound.

History in brief

In March 1941 the German administration forced Krakow's Jews into a sealed ghetto in Podgórze. More than 15,000 people were confined in an area that had previously housed about 3,000, behind walls whose sections were built in the shape of Jewish tombstones. In 1942, mass deportations took thousands from the square now called Plac Bohaterów Getta to the Nazi German extermination camp at Bełżec. The ghetto was liquidated in March 1943: those judged fit for work were marched to the Płaszów camp, while others were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau or murdered on the spot. Of the roughly 70,000 Jews living in Krakow in 1939, only a few thousand survived the war.

What to see

• Ghetto Heroes Square (Plac Bohaterów Getta): the memorial of 70 empty chairs, installed in 2005, marks the square where deportations took place. It is open at all times and free.
• Ghetto wall fragments: two original sections survive, on Lwowska Street and on Limanowskiego Street, their rounded tops shaped like Jewish tombstones. Both are freely accessible.
• Eagle Pharmacy: on the square itself, the pharmacy run by Tadeusz Pankiewicz inside the ghetto, now a museum of remembrance.
• Schindler's Factory: the museum of Krakow under occupation at Lipowa 4, a ten-minute walk east; see our page on the Schindler's Factory Museum.
• St Joseph's Church: the neo-Gothic landmark of Podgórski Market Square, usually open around service times.
• Krakus Mound: a prehistoric mound south of the district with a wide panorama of Krakow, free and open at all hours.

Practical information

The outdoor sites, the square, the wall fragments, the church exterior and the mound, cost nothing and have no opening hours. The two museums, the Eagle Pharmacy and Schindler's Factory, charge admission and typically close one day a week; Schindler's Factory uses timed entry and often sells out, so book ahead. A walk covering the square and wall fragments takes 1 to 2 hours; adding both museums fills half a day.

Getting there

Trams from the centre and Kazimierz stop at Plac Bohaterów Getta and Limanowskiego. On foot, the nicest approach is from Kazimierz across the Father Bernatek footbridge, which connects the two halves of Krakow's Jewish history. Our Krakow Ghetto tour covers the district's memorial sites by electric cart, and the longer Memory Trail tour links Kazimierz, the former ghetto and Schindler's Factory in one route.

Etiquette

The square, the wall fragments and the pharmacy are memorial spaces. Move through them quietly, keep photography respectful, and do not climb or pose on the chairs of the memorial. The district is also home to people going about their day, and thoughtful visitors fit into that rhythm rather than interrupting it.

Frequently asked questions

Was the Krakow Ghetto in Kazimierz?

No. Kazimierz was the historic Jewish quarter, but the ghetto created by the Nazi German occupiers was located in Podgórze, across the river. The two districts are connected today by the Father Bernatek footbridge.

How long did the Krakow Ghetto exist?

From March 1941 to March 1943. It was liquidated on 13 and 14 March 1943, with survivors sent to the Płaszów camp, deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau or killed during the liquidation itself.

Where can I see the ghetto wall?

Two original fragments survive: one on Lwowska Street and one behind the school on Limanowskiego Street. Their tombstone-shaped tops make them among the most sobering remnants of the ghetto.

Is Podgórze free to visit?

Largely yes. Ghetto Heroes Square, the wall fragments, St Joseph's Church and Krakus Mound cost nothing. The Eagle Pharmacy and Schindler's Factory are paid museums.

How much time should I plan for Podgórze?

Allow 1 to 2 hours for the outdoor memorial sites, or half a day if you add the Eagle Pharmacy and Schindler's Factory. Many visitors combine the district with Kazimierz for a full day of Jewish heritage.