House with Atlantes in Kraków

The House with Atlantes stands at Pijarska 3 in the Old Town, a few dozen metres from Planty Park. It owes its name to the figures of atlantes that support the half-columns on the facade.

Who built it and when

The townhouse was built in 1892-1894 to a design by Władysław Kaczmarski. It was meant to be his own home, but as early as 1893 he sold it to I. Plesner. Since 20 July 2020 the townhouse, together with its outbuilding, has been entered in the heritage register.

Facade and entrance hall

The building represents the eclectic style with a predominance of neo-Baroque. It has four storeys, and the five-axis facade is divided vertically by four Ionic half-columns of the giant order. They are supported by fully three-dimensional figures of atlantes. In the entrance hall, on the vault, Pompeian paintings have survived.

Practical information

• Address: Pijarska 3, Kraków, Old Town.
• The facade is best viewed from the street. The sources do not give rules of entry to the entrance hall or the courtyard, so do not assume they are accessible.
• Nearby: the Czartoryski Museum and St Florian's Gate.