Park Krakow Planty (Planty) is a large and beautiful city park, which is located around the historical center of Krakow (Stare Miasto), on the site of the former fortress walls. Its length is about 4 km, and its area is more than 21 hectares! The park consists of eight separate parks that smoothly merge into each other. It seems to surround the old city on all sides and approaches the base of the Wawel Castle hill from both sides.
Krakow Planty Park. The building of the Krakow Słowacki Theater can be seen behind on the right. There are many sculptures and alleys in the park itself.
Initially, on the site of the Krakow Plants there were city fortress walls, but they were demolished at the beginning of the 19th century, and they decided to improve the remaining territory: they filled in a ditch, laid alleys, planted trees, and laid out flower beds. It was then that local residents began to call this newly created park “Plantation” (due to the fact that the ground was leveled here and young trees and plants were planted). From this name came the modern name – Planty.
The lake is the fountain of the park. Located in the area of the Barbican and Florian’s Gate. Doesn’t work during the cold season.
The author of the park is F. Radvansky, professor at the Jagiellonian University. Subsequently, more than 8 thousand trees (chestnuts, maples, lindens, ash trees) were planted in the park, sculptures and fountains appeared. A stone path was laid on the site of the old foundation of the city fortress walls.
An unusual sculpture – a monument to the artist Jan Matejko
There are also sculptures in the park. There are more than ten of them – both modern and more ancient. The oldest sculpture that has survived to this day is a monument to the Polish-Lithuanian Union built in 1886. Masha Pasha liked the unusual monument to the famous Polish artist Jan Matejko in the form of an empty picture frame, behind which the park itself is visible.
The surviving remains of the Krakow fortress walls are located in the area of the Florian Gate
On the territory of the park from the Florian Gate (this is the only medieval city gate that has survived to this day) there is a famous landmark Krakow Barbican. Also, from the side of the park you can see many other significant buildings of the old city, in particular, the old Opera Theater named after. Slovacki, museums, monasteries and churches… A walk through the park could well become a separate excursion.
The children’s playground in the center of Krakow is located on the Krakow Plants (if you walk from Wawel Castle, you need to keep to the right side of the park). The Saint Gertrude tram stop is nearby.
On the territory of the Krakow Planty Park there are also two original playgrounds. One of them is located right in the park itself, the other is in the courtyard adjacent to the park (it is difficult to find). Both sites are located on opposite sides of the old town, but closer to Wawel.
Archaeological playground. Located in a closed courtyard near the Archaeological Museum of Krakow (if you walk from Wawel Castle, you need to keep to the left side of the park).
