General Information

Planty is one of the largest city parks in Krakow. It encircles the Old Town, where the mediaeval city walls stood until the early 19th century. The park covers an area of 21,000 square metres and is 4 kilometers long. It consists of a chain of thirty smaller gardens designed in varied styles and adorned with numerous monuments and fountains.

History: Highlights

The green belt was established in place of the mediaeval walls between 1822 and 1830. The ramparts were in disrepair and hindered the city’s development, so Emperor Franz I of Austro-Hungary ordered them dismantled. The ground was levelled and planted with trees and flowers.

History: Explained

The citizens of Krakow were very much in favour of the demolition, because the mediaeval city walls were hazardous to health, not to mention stank to high heavens, being a nest of rats and the preferred dump for all sorts of waste for many a century. All that remains of the old fortifications are the Florian Gate and the adjoining Barbican, which were saved by Professor Feliks Radwański of Jagiellonian University. He managed to convince the Session of the Senate of the Republic of Krakow to legislate the partial preservation. Rumour has it he argued that should the Florian Gate be demolished, strong winds would rage in the Floriańska street, disturbing citizens on their way to St Mary’s Basilica.