The Cloth Hall in the heart of the Main Market Square is not only the most photographed building in Krakow — it was for centuries a trading hub for everything from wool and silk to spices and wax. Its Renaissance form, the attic crowned with fanciful mascarons and the heraldic panels turned it into a city symbol.
Keep in mind that the Cloth Hall’s current look is the result of several reconstructions; the silhouette most people recognize today comes from 19th century works. The upper floor houses the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Painting (a branch of the National Museum), while the ground floor still breathes market life — stalls selling handicrafts, jewelry and souvenirs.
A mascaron — a decorative, often grotesque face carved in stone — is one of the most characteristic motifs on the Cloth Hall’s attic. In the Renaissance context it served both decorative and symbolic purposes: it was thought to guard the building from evil, but it could also be an artist’s joke or a caricature of a contemporary figure.
Heraldic cartouches and seals visible on the lower part of the building are the result of the 19th-century arrangement with a clear patriotic accent — city coats of arms and guild seals were meant to recall former power and identity. The heraldic program was also part of a then-fashionable trend to decorate buildings with municipal and historical symbolism.
Some decorative details of the Cloth Hall refer directly to local events and legends — for example, in the passage through the building there is an iron knife that in tradition recalls an old punishment for thieves and is linked to a local story about rival builders.
If you look closely at the Cloth Hall you will spot elements that appear elsewhere in the Old Town — on townhouses around the Market, on church façades and on public buildings. Renaissance and Mannerist attics, mascaron accents and heraldic programs became a model copied in later restorations and new constructions.
You’ll notice similarities most easily near the Market: in St. Mary’s Church (polychromes and heraldic decorations), on some tenements along Sienna and Szewska streets and on the façades of municipal institutions that in the 19th century used heraldry to express local identity.
You don’t have to know architectural style names — just watch for repeating forms: arcades, loggias, small corner turrets, decorative face masks and metal cartouches with coats of arms. These are the details that “link” the Cloth Hall with other Krakow monuments.
During the 1890s restoration a heraldic program was introduced into the Cloth Hall that included city coats of arms and guild seals — an act charged with symbolic and patriotic meaning in the partitions era.
The mascarons on the attic hide a lot of humor and self-presentation by their designers: sometimes they are caricatures of contemporary politicians or local worthies. If you look closely you can read 19th-century jabs and satirical comments aimed at the local elite.
A memorable curiosity is the iron knife hanging in the Cloth Hall passage — an element tied to former laws punishing thieves and to a city legend that guides often like to tell.
It’s best to start early in the morning, just after the Market opens — you’ll avoid the crowds and take better photos of the façade without people in the foreground. In the evening, when the townhouses are lit, the Cloth Hall looks magical as well.
If you plan to visit the upper-floor Gallery (Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Painting), check opening hours and consider buying tickets in advance — queues can be long in the high season. The museum has official guides and curators who lead thematic tours — it’s worth joining one to see selected paintings in their historical context.
On the Market be aware of pickpockets — keep valuables close and don’t leave bags or backpacks unattended at stalls. If you want to buy souvenirs, look for stalls that certify handmade goods and avoid clearly counterfeit items.
In the heart of the Market you’ll find a few historic and well-regarded places worth considering: Café Noworolski (inside the Cloth Hall complex) is a classic — great if you want to feel the old Krakow atmosphere over coffee and cake.
For a formal or traditional lunch, the Wierzynek restaurant is a perfect match — a long-established place with classic interiors often recommended by visitors. For lighter dishes and an elegant setting try Szara Restaurant at the Market Square, which collects consistently good reviews.
If you prefer something more intimate, choose cafés and patisseries on the small side streets around the Market — they often have a more pleasant atmosphere than the main square and are ideal for an afternoon break.
Thinking the Cloth Hall is only about souvenirs — many tourists treat the Cloth Hall purely as a souvenir market and skip the upper-floor gallery. Make time for the museum interiors — there’s much more history and art there than at the stalls.
Buying the cheapest 'handicrafts' without asking about origin — if you want an authentic souvenir, ask the seller about materials and how the item was made or look for quality certificates.
Visiting the Cloth Hall only at midday in high season — that’s when crowds are largest. Plan your visit off-peak to see more details and feel the place’s atmosphere.
Is entry to the Cloth Hall paid? Access to the ground-floor passages with stalls is free; admission is charged for the upper-floor Gallery and other permanent National Museum exhibitions.
Can I take photos inside the gallery? Photography rules vary — check the exhibition regulations before entering. Often photography without flash is allowed, but not always.
Is it worth visiting the Cloth Hall with a guide? Yes — official museum guides and licensed Krakow guides bring historical context and point out details that are easy to miss on your own.
Short walk (1–2 hours): Cloth Hall — St. Mary’s Church — a quick stroll around the Market, stopping at the most interesting townhouses and stalls.
Longer walk (half day): Cloth Hall and the upper-floor Gallery — the Planty — walk toward Wawel with stops at historic tenements and small museums.
For art lovers: combine the Cloth Hall with visits to other branches of the National Museum — a great way to see Polish painting and sculpture in a broader context.
The Cloth Hall is a place that blends trade, art, history and legend. The motifs that catch the eye — mascaron faces, the attic, coats of arms and seals — also appear elsewhere in Krakow and together tell a coherent story about the city.
If you want to learn more about the Cloth Hall and its symbols, use the help of an experienced guide. Małgorzata Kasprowicz (Margaret Kasprowicz) from zwiedzaniekrakowa.com can help plan your trip — she offers guided tours of the Cloth Hall and museums, arranges logistics, ticket reservations, accommodation and recommended restaurant bookings. That way you’ll see Krakow as locals do — with context, anecdotes and practical tips.
If you enjoyed this article — share it with friends or on social media. If you dream of a private, well-planned visit — visit zwiedzaniekrakowa.com and get in touch with Małgorzata.
