Kleparz


Kleparz is a neighbourhood in Kraków, Poland, situated directly to the north of the Old Town, marking the beginning of the Royal Road. It was a separate town between 1366 and 1792. It is now part of the Stare Miasto administrative district.

History

The first known settlement at the present Kleparz territory was founded before 1184. In this year the Church of St. Florian was erected by the Kraków Bishop Gedko. The settlement grew very fast in number and size, so it soon was known as the Alta civitas and had about one thousand inhabitants as well as 2,380 horses. Casimir the Great granted it the location rights in 1366 and named it Florencja, after the St. Florian Church.
The houses were built of timber around the market square and its citizens were mainly craftsmen, including smiths and tailors. In the next century the new name Kleparz replaced the previous one. Kleparz was burned down several times during wars or by great fires in 1476, 1528, 1655, 1657, 1755 and 1768. In 1792 it was incorporated into the city of Kraków by the decision of the Great Sejm.
In the 19th century Kleparz was rebuilt with new residential mansions in neoclacisist and the art nouveau style.

Interesting sights

The most interesting sights in Kleparz are the Kleparz Market Square with colorful stalls and the Jan Matejko Square located almost side by side and flanked by the Academy of Fine Arts and the St. Florian Church with the Grunwald Monument at its centre.