Jan Nowak-Jeziorański Square in Kraków

Jan Nowak-Jeziorański Square is a square in Kraków, in District I Stare Miasto, between the old Kraków Główny station building, Galeria Krakowska, the Wołodkowicz small palace, the andel's hotel and Lubicz Street. It is 145 m long from north to south and 115 m wide from east to west. Its area, including the post office and hotel buildings, is about 16,675 m².

Origin of the name

The square is linked with the railway. In 1870-1892 it was called Railway Square (plac Kolei Żelaznej), then until 2006 Railway Square (plac Kolejowy), and it has had its present name since 2006. In 1844 construction of Kraków's station began, and in 1847 of the Kraków-Upper Silesia Railway line from Kraków to Mysłowice. The land for the station and the square was bought from the monastery of St Mark.

How the square has changed since 2000

At the beginning of the 21st century the old buildings standing on the square were demolished, among them the “Smok” bar. In 2004 construction of Galeria Krakowska began in the northern part of the square, and in 2007 of the andel's hotel. The square was thoroughly renovated in 2007 during construction of the Kraków Transport Centre.

What goes on here

Since the renovation an artificial ice rink has been set up in one part of the square in winter. In 2012 the Galician Advent Fair took place here. The square also holds a monument to Ryszard Kukliński, unveiled on 4 June 2018, to a design by Czesław Dźwigaj and Krzysztof Lenartowicz.

From the square it is about 300 m to the Barbican, and about 400 m to St Florian's Gate. Nearby is also the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre, and not far away Planty Park begins.

Practical information

• Location: by Kraków Główny station, on Lubicz Street, in the Old Town.
• Free entry; the square is a public space.
• The ice rink appears seasonally, in winter; check current dates with the city information service.
• The square is about 800 m from the Main Market Square.