The Barbican & St. Florian's Gate: Northern Fortress

Why is it significant?

Stand right before the formidable red-brick fortifications of the Barbican, surrounded by the green park ring of the Planty.

Key Facts

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Stand right before the formidable red-brick fortifications of the Barbican, surrounded by the green park ring of the Planty. With its three-meter-thick masonry, seven watchtowers, and one hundred and thirty gun slits, you are looking at one of only three surviving fortified outposts of its kind in all of Europe. Completed in fourteen ninety-eight under King Jan Olbracht, it was built out of fear of Ottoman invasions following the Battle of the Cosmin Forest. Look across the stone bridge toward St. Florian's Gate: built in thirteen zero seven from rough white limestone, this was the ceremonial starting point of the Droga Królewska, or Royal Road. Newly crowned Polish kings, foreign ambassadors, and victorious armies made their grand entry into Kraków through this Gothic arch before proceeding toward Wawel Castle. Notice the bas-relief of Saint Florian pouring water on a burning house carved into the southern facade: legend holds that Florian's holy relics, brought to Kraków in eleven eighty-four, miraculously spared the town from devastating city fires. Walk through the cool arched portal into Floriańska Street as we head toward the great Main Market Square.