Sukiennice (the Cloth Hall) is one of Krakow’s most recognizable buildings — a landmark on the Main Market Square that for centuries has combined commercial, representative and cultural functions. What may look like a simple market hall actually contains a long history of changing uses and forms: from medieval drapers’ stalls, through Renaissance rebuildings, to a 19th-century transformation into an art gallery. A walk around and through the Cloth Hall is a rapid course in the city’s history, trade and evolving aesthetic tastes.
If you’re planning to visit, look beyond the façade and the souvenir stalls: go upstairs to learn about the building’s reconstructions, notice local highlights like Café Noworolski and the nearby entrance to the Market Square Underworld (Podziemia Rynku). Understanding the Cloth Hall’s role helps read the whole Market Square in context and appreciate Krakow’s place as a medieval — and later — trade centre.
In the sections below I’ll take you step by step through the most important moments in the Cloth Hall’s history, describe architectural details worth watching for, offer practical tips for visitors and point out small mistakes to avoid while exploring.
The name Sukiennice comes from the Polish word sukno — the heavy cloth that was traded here. The earliest drapers’ markets appeared already when the city was founded and received town rights in the Middle Ages. At first trade took place in open stalls on the Market surface; over time built structures formed a long, compact building that allowed trading under a roof.
In the Middle Ages the Cloth Hall was the centre of wholesale trade — merchants from across Europe met here to exchange textiles, hides, spices and luxury goods. Trade in the Cloth Hall powered the city budget and reinforced Krakow’s position as an important regional trading hub.
From an urban point of view its north–south location on the Market Square gave the whole space the structure we still recognise today: two long parallel wings with shorter end façades on the streets that lead to and from the Square.
A key moment in the Cloth Hall’s history was the Market fire of 1555. The damage required a thorough rebuilding carried out in the spirit of Renaissance trends. Several craftsmen and architects took part in the works; sculptor-architect Jan Maria Padovano (sometimes called Padovano) played an important role, designing the shorter façades and loggias. In this phase the distinctive attic with decorative mascarons was created — an element that gives the building a Mannerist-Renaissance expression.
The interior layout was also altered and the building’s representational character accentuated — the Cloth Hall ceased to be only a collection of stalls and became a showy hall with clearly emphasised façades facing the Market. The mid-16th-century reconstruction gave the Cloth Hall many features that survived into modern times despite later stylistic corrections and conservation work.
In the second half of the 19th century the Cloth Hall underwent another major transformation. From 1875 to 1879 a comprehensive restoration was carried out under the supervision of architect Tomasz Pryliński. Historical forms were restored and emphasised, while functional adaptations were made — the upper floor was prepared for exhibition rooms. As a result the Cloth Hall became a seat of the National Museum: the national gallery in the Cloth Hall was officially established in 1879, when donations such as Henryk Siemiradzki’s painting "Nero’s Torches" helped launch a permanent gallery.
During this transformation some adjacent booths were removed, arcaded undercrofts were introduced on the ground floor and the upper rooms were adapted to display artworks. The 19th-century reorganisation largely shaped the appearance we know today: a combination of commercial use on the ground floor and museum function upstairs, with an aesthetic that blends historicist and conservation approaches.
Through the 20th century the interiors were altered several times; in the 21st century the presentation of 19th-century Polish painting has been modernised and reinterpreted within a contemporary museum narrative.
The Cloth Hall is a synthesis of elements from different eras: a Gothic volume, Renaissance loggias and attic, and 19th-century interventions. The most important features to look for during your visit are:
- the attic with mascarons and Renaissance ornamentation, visible from the Market level;
- the loggias and arcaded undercrofts formed during 19th-century conservation works;
- the shorter end façades with the entrances leading into the Cloth Hall;
- sculptural and stonework details that survived the 16th-century rebuilds.
If you go upstairs, pay attention to the arrangement of the exhibition rooms — the large salons displaying 19th-century Polish painting are organised to recreate a period-style presentation, giving a sense of how art was displayed in those times.
The Cloth Hall’s function changed gradually but consistently combined trade and civic representation:
- Middle Ages: a trading hall and wholesale market for textiles;
- Renaissance: continued commercial role paired with representative façades and decorative details;
- 19th century: partial adaptation for museum purposes — seat of the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art;
- Modern times: the ground floor still serves commercial functions (souvenir shops, crafts, a café), the upper floor houses a permanent National Museum gallery; the immediate surroundings also host cultural and tourist spaces, such as the entrance to the Market Square Underworld.
This multi-layered functionality makes the Cloth Hall a living place: not only a monument to view, but a space for meetings, shopping and encountering art.
The Cloth Hall is very easy to reach — it stands in the very centre of the Main Market Square. If you want to visit the upstairs gallery, check opening hours and possible free-admission days on the National Museum’s official channels before you go. Keep in mind that the ground floor is heavily visited by tourists, especially in high season.
Practical tips:
- visit in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the biggest crowds on the Market;
- if you plan to photograph museum interiors, ask about photography rules at the ticket desk;
- combine your visit with the Market Square Underworld (Podziemia Rynku) and a walk around the Square to better understand the urban layout;
- inside the Cloth Hall you’ll find the historic Café Noworolski — a lovely place for a break if you want to enjoy some of Krakow’s café tradition;
- if you prefer a guided tour, I (Małgorzata Kasprowicz) offer guided routes focused on the Market and Krakow’s monuments — ask about private tours and themed walks concentrating on the history of trade and architecture.
Avoid buying the first souvenir you see at the entrance — there are high-quality craft shops and regional stores nearby where you can compare offers.
A visit to the Cloth Hall pairs easily with a good meal or coffee. A few well-known places around the Market: Wierzynek — the historic restaurant on the Main Market, several restaurants offering Polish and modern cuisine close to the Square, and Café Noworolski right at the Cloth Hall. If you want a quick and satisfying meal, pick restaurants with solid reviews; keep in mind that prices near the Market can be higher than a few streets away. For better value, walk a few minutes toward Kazimierz or along Grodzka Street.
Curiosities:
- The mascaron heads on the attic are not mere decoration — they testify to Mannerist trends and artistic influences from Italy.
- The name "Sukiennice" is literal: the building originally served predominantly for cloth trading.
- The building’s present form is the result of many epochs — its appearance combines medieval solutions, Renaissance details and 19th-century conservation decisions.
Common tourist mistakes and how to avoid them:
- confusing the functions of ground floor and upper floor — ground floor is shops and stalls, upper floor is the museum gallery;
- looking only at the façade and not going upstairs — without visiting the upper floor you can miss a significant part of the Cloth Hall’s history;
- buying the first available souvenir near the entrance — compare offers at several stalls.
FAQ (short answers):
- Is the Cloth Hall free? - The ground floor with the stalls is freely accessible; entrance to the upstairs museum gallery is paid (check current ticket information at the National Museum).
- Can you visit the Cloth Hall on your own? - Yes, but for more historical detail consider a guided tour.
- Are there toilets in the Cloth Hall? - There are facilities near the Market and inside the museum complex; ask at the ticket desk for exact locations.
The Cloth Hall is more than an Instagram backdrop — it’s a place where trade history, art and everyday city life meet. Experience it in layers: admire the façade, browse the stalls, go upstairs to the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art, then sit down for a coffee at Noworolski or take a short stroll around the Market.
If you’d like, I can prepare a walking route for you that includes the Cloth Hall and nearby sights, or suggest a themed walk focused on the history of trade and Krakow’s architecture. If you enjoyed the article, please share it with friends — and when you’re in Krakow and would like a guided visit, check my private guiding offers as Małgorzata Kasprowicz on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
