Districts of Kraków

{{Kraków districts}}

The city of Kraków is divided into 18 administrative districts, each with a degree of autonomy within the municipal government.{{cite web | url=http://www.krakow-info.com/district.htm | title=Boroughs of Krakow | work=Municipal districts. Historic quarters | publisher=www.krakow-info.com | access-date=2009-07-24 }} The Polish name for such a district is dzielnica.

The oldest neighborhoods of Kraków were incorporated into the city before the late 18th century. They include the Old Town (Stare Miasto), once contained within the city defensive walls and now encircled by the Planty park; the Wawel, which is the site of the Royal Castle and the Cathedral; Stradom and Kazimierz, the latter originally divided into Christian and Jewish quarters;Rick Steves, "Poland Rediscovered: ." Published in Rick Steves' Eastern Europe, 2005 edition. {{cite web |url=http://www.ricksteves.com/tvr/polandrse310_details.htm |title=Krakow, Auschwitz and Warsaw |access-date=2007-09-12}} as well as the ancient town of Kleparz.

Major districts added in the 19th and 20th centuries include Podgórze, which until 1915 was a separate town on the southern bank of the Vistula, and Nowa Huta, east of the city centre, built after World War II and incorporated into the city in 1951. Between 1951 and 1973 the city was divided into six districts: Stare Miasto, Zwierzyniec, Kleparz, Grzegórzki, Podgórze and Nowa Huta. From 1973 until the introduction of the present division in 1991 there were four districts: Śródmieście ("City Centre"), Podgórze, Krowodrza and Nowa Huta.

The current division was introduced on 27 March 1991 and revised by Kraków City Council on 19 April 1995.Original Kraków City Hall bylaw Nr XXI/143/91 (unpublished) introduced on 27 March 1991; current municipal borders established according to City bylaw Nr XVI/192/95 for 19 April 1995. Source: {{cite web |url=http://www.cyfronet.krakow.pl/mk/bip/rada/uchwaly/show_pdf.php?id=2112 |title=Gazeta Urzędowa Miasta Krakowa Nr 10, poz. 84 |access-date=2007-09-14 |format=PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20091205092607/http://www.cyfronet.krakow.pl/mk/bip/rada/uchwaly/show_pdf.php?id=2112 |archive-date=2009-12-05 }} The districts were assigned Roman numerals as well as names. The names and numbers of the 18 districts are now as follows: Stare Miasto (I), Grzegórzki (II), Prądnik Czerwony (III), Prądnik Biały (IV), Krowodrza (V), Bronowice (VI), Zwierzyniec (VII), Dębniki (VIII), Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki (IX), Swoszowice (X), Podgórze Duchackie (XI), Bieżanów-Prokocim (XII), Podgórze (XIII), Czyżyny (XIV), Mistrzejowice (XV), Bieńczyce (XVI), Wzgórza Krzesławickie (XVII), and Nowa Huta (XVIII).

Stare Miasto

{{main|Dzielnica I Stare Miasto|Kraków Old Town}}

File:Kraków dzielnica I Stare Miasto.svg

File:Krakow Wawel 20070804 0930.jpg

Stare Miasto, meaning "Old Town", is Kraków's Administrative District No. 1. It consists of the historic Kraków Old Town itself, as well as the Wawel castle hill, the former largely Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, and a number of other neighbourhoods surrounding the old town: Nowe Miasto ("New Town"), Nowy Świat ("New World"), Kleparz, Okół, Piasek, Stradom and Warszawskie (partly in Prądnik Czerwony). Kraków's historic centre, covering the Old Town, Wawel and Kazimierz, was entered on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1978.

Kraków has the most prominent example of an old town in the country, because for many centuries, Kraków was the royal capital of Poland, until Sigismund III Vasa relocated the court to Warsaw in 1596.

Medieval Kraków was surrounded by a 1.9 mile (3 km) defensive wall complete with 46 towers and seven main entrances leading through them. The fortifications around the Old Town were erected over the course of two centuries. The current architectural plan of Stare Miasto—the 13th-century merchants' town—was drawn up following the Tatar invasions of 1259 and 1287.Andrew Beattie, Landmark Publishing, Tim Pepper, [https://books.google.com/books?id=lbtj5ZuyPncC&pg=PA28&dq=%22Stare+Miasto,+the+Old+Town,+whose+plan+was+drawn+up+following+the+Tartar+invasion%22&sig=ACfU3U3aN82B_9J9w1rjugUt3etWqaf1ww Stare Miasto, the Old Town, Krakow] Published by Hunter Publishing It features the centrally located Rynek Główny, or Main Square, the largest medieval town square of any European city.[https://books.google.com/books?id=iffiuomwGi0C&pg=PA537&dq=%22the++biggest++square++in++medieval++europe%22&sig=ACfU3U3VLw6daQ6gds33ooCGHZm1mRiOOQ Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door]{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. [https://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0409/rick_steves_eartern_europe_in_transition.shtml Supplementary:"the biggest square in medieval Europe."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006103836/https://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0409/rick_steves_eartern_europe_in_transition.shtml |date=October 6, 2013 }} There is a number of historic landmarks in its vicinity, such as St. Mary's Basilica (Kościół Mariacki), Church of St. Wojciech (St. Adalbert's), Church of St. Barbara, as well as other national treasures. At the center of the plaza, surrounded by kamienice (row houses) and noble residences, stands the Renaissance cloth hall Sukiennice (currently housing gift shops, restaurants and merchant stalls) with the National Gallery of Art upstairs. It is flanked by the Town Hall Tower (Wieża ratuszowa).

The whole district is bisected by the Royal Road, the coronation route traversed by the Kings of Poland. The Route begins at St. Florian's Church outside the northern flank of the old city walls in the medieval suburb of Kleparz; passes the Barbican of Kraków (Barbakan) built in 1499, and enters Stare Miasto through the Florian Gate. It leads down Floriańska Street through the Main Square, and up Grodzka to Wawel, the former seat of Polish royalty overlooking the Vistula river.

In the 19th century most of the Old Town fortifications were demolished. The moat encircling the walls was filled in and turned into a green belt known as Planty Park.

Grzegórzki

{{main|Grzegórzki (Kraków)}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica II Grzegorzki.svg

File:FabrycznaCity-DawnyKompleksFabrycznyWytwórniWódek-UlicaFabryczna-POL, Kraków.jpg

Grzegórzki is Kraków's Administrative District No. II. Until 1990 it was a part of District No. I (Stare Miasto).{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica2.krakow.pl/ |title=Grzegórzki District, homepage |publisher=Dzielnica2.krakow.pl |date=2014-03-15 |access-date=2014-04-28}} It borders the districts of Stare Miasto to the west, Prądnik Czerwony to the north, Czyżyny to the east, and Podgórze across the river to the south. It consists of neighbourhoods called Dąbie, Grzegórzki, Olsza (partly in Prądnik Czerwony), Osiedle Oficerskie and Wesoła.

Prądnik Czerwony

{{main|Prądnik Czerwony}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica III Pradnik Czerwony.svg

File:PrądnikCzerwony-DzielnicaBiurowa-WidokOdPołudniowegoZachodu-POL, Kraków.jpg

Prądnik Czerwony ("Red Prądnik") is Kraków's Administrative District No. III. Until 1990 it was a part of District No. I (Stare Miasto).{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica3.krakow.pl/ |title=Prądnik Czerwony District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica3.krakow.pl |access-date=2014-04-28}} It borders Prądnik Biały to the north-west, Mistrzejowice and Czyżyny to the east, and Stare Miasto and Grzegórzki to the south. It consists of neighbourhoods called Prądnik Czerwony, Olsza (partly in Grzegórzki), Rakowice, Śliczna, Ugorek, Warszawskie (partly in Stare Miasto) and Wieczysta.

Prądnik Biały

{{main|Prądnik Biały}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica IV Pradnik Bialy.svg

File:Białoprądnicki manor house, 2 Papiernicza street, Kraków, Poland.jpg

Prądnik Biały ("White Prądnik") is Kraków's Administrative District No. IV, the most northerly district in the city. Until 1990 it was a part of District No. V (Krowodrza).{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica4.krakow.pl/ |title=Prądnik Biały District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica4.krakow.pl |access-date=2014-04-28}} It borders Bronowice, Krowodrza, Stare Miasto and Grzegórzki. It consists of neighbourhoods called Prądnik Biały, Azory, Bronowice Wielkie, Górka Narodowa, Tonie, Witkowice, Żabiniec, Osiedle Krowodrza Górka and Osiedle Witkowice Nowe.

Krowodrza

{{main|Krowodrza}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica V Krowodrza.svg

File:Biprostal-UlicaKrólewska57-NowaWieś-POL, Kraków.jpg

Krowodrza is Kraków's Administrative District No. V, until 24 May 2006 known as Łobzów.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica5.krakow.pl/ |title=Krowodrza District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica5.krakow.pl |access-date=2014-04-28}} It borders Stare Miasto to the east, Zwierzyniec to the south, Bronowice to the west and Prądnik Biały to the north. It consists of the former villages of Czarna Wieś, Krowodrza, Łobzów and Nowa Wieś, the Cichy Kącik estate, and a quarter with housing for students of the AGH University of Science and Technology.

Bronowice

{{main|Bronowice (Kraków)}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica VI Bronowice.svg

File:Rydlówka, Bronowice Małe, 2022 09.jpg manor house]]

Bronowice is Kraków's Administrative District No. VI, split in 1990 from District No. V.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica6.krakow.pl/ |title=Bronowice District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica6.krakow.pl |access-date=2014-04-28}} It is bordered by Prądnik Biały to the north, Krowodrza to the east and Zwierzyniec to the south. It consists of the former villages of Bronowice, Bronowice Małe and Mydlniki, and estates called Osiedle Bronowice Nowe and Osiedle Widok Zarzecze.

Zwierzyniec

{{main|Zwierzyniec (Kraków)}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica VII Zwierzyniec.svg

File:Zwierzyniec-KopiecKościuszki-WidokOdPołudniowegoWschodu-POL, Kraków.jpg]]

Zwierzyniec is Kraków's Administrative District No. VII.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica7.krakow.pl/ |title=Zwierzyniec District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica7.krakow.pl |access-date=2014-04-28}} It borders Bronowice and Krowodrza to the north, Stare Miasto to the east, and Dębniki to the south (across the Vistula). It includes the neighbourhoods (former villages) of Bielany, Chełm, Olszanica, Półwsie Zwierzynieckie, Przegorzały, Wola Justowska, Zakamycze and Zwierzyniec, and the Salwator estate. The district contains the Kościuszko Mound and the Blessed Bronisława Chapel. In Bielany there is a Camaldolese monastery, with a nature reserve on the slopes of the hill on which it stands. Bielany is also the site of Kraków's first municipal water supply plant, in use since 1901.

Dębniki

{{main|Dębniki (Kraków)}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica VIII Debniki.svg

File:Debnicki Market Square, Debniki, Krakow, Poland.jpg

Dębniki is Kraków's Administrative District No. VIII, split in 1990 from Podgórze.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica8.krakow.pl/ |title=District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica8.krakow.pl |access-date=2014-04-28}} It contains the former villages of Bodzów, Dębniki, Kapelanka, Kobierzyn, Koło Tynieckie, Kostrze, Ludwinów, Podgórki Tynieckie, Pychowice, Sidzina, Skotniki, Tyniec and Zakrzówek, the neighbourhoods of Kliny Zacisze and Mochnaniec, as well as a number of newly built estates.

Dębniki is a primarily residential area, with diverse architecture, ranging from 19th-century tenements in the area of Rynek Dębnicki (Dębniki Market) to plattenbau blocks of flats in the Podwawelskie and Ruczaj estates and suburban areas of detached houses in the outskirts. In Tyniec is a famous Benedictine abbey, founded in the 11th century.

The district contains many open spaces, Zakrzówek Nature Park being the most popular of them. A new complex of university buildings, called the Third Campus of the Jagiellonian University, is being developed within the district.

Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki

{{main|Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica IX Lagiewniki.svg

File:Kraków, Sanktuarium Bożego Miłosierdzia - fotopolska.eu (214721).jpg]]

Łagiewniki–Borek Fałęcki is Kraków's Administrative District No. IX, also known as District IX Łagiewniki. Until 1990 it was a part of Podgórze district.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica9.krakow.pl/ |title=Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica9.krakow.pl |access-date=2014-04-28}} It consists of the neighbourhood of Łagiewniki to the north, and Borek Fałęcki to the south. In the north-west is the estate called Osiedle Cegielniana. The district borders Podgórze to the north, Podgórze Duchackie to the east, Swoszowice to the south and Dębniki to the west.

Swoszowice

{{main|Swoszowice (Kraków)}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica X Swoszowice.svg

File:Kraków A 675 Swoszowice ul. Kąpielowa 70 uzdrowisko x2.jpg

Swoszowice is Kraków's Administrative District No. X. Until 1990 it was a part of Podgórze district.{{cite web|author=s3v3n |url=http://www.dzielnica10.krakow.pl/ |title=Swoszowice District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica10.krakow.pl |access-date=2014-04-28}} It borders Dębniki to the west and Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki and Podgórze Duchackie to the north. It includes the Swoszowice spa neighbourhood, as well as the neighbourhoods of Bania, Barycz, Jugowice, Kliny Borkowskie, Kosocice, Lusina, Łysa Góra ("Bald Mount"), Opatkowice, Rajsko, Siarczana Góra ("Sulphur Mount"), Soboniowice, Wróblowice and Zbydniowice.

Podgórze Duchackie

{{main|Podgórze Duchackie}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica XI Wola Duchacka.svg

File:UlicaNowosądecka-WidokNaPółnocnyWschód-POL, Kraków.jpg

Podgórze Duchackie is Kraków's Administrative District No. XI. Until 24 May 2006 it was known as District XI Wola Duchacka. It was a part of Podgórze district until 1990.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica11.krakow.pl/ |title=Podgórze Duchackie District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica11.krakow.pl |access-date=2014-04-28}} It borders Podgórze to the north, Bieżanów-Prokocim to the east, Swoszowice to the south and Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki to the west. The district contains the neighbourhoods of Bonarka, Kurdwanów, Kurdwanów Nowy ("New Kurdwanów"), Osiedle Piaski Nowe, Osiedle Podlesie, Piaski Wielkie and Wola Duchacka.

Bieżanów-Prokocim

{{main|Bieżanów-Prokocim}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica XII Prokocim-Biezanow.svg

File:OsiedleNowyProkocim-WidokOdPołudnia-POL, Kraków.jpg

Bieżanów-Prokocim is Kraków's Administrative District No. XII. Until 24 May 2006 it was known as District XII Prokocim-Bieżanów; it was a part of Podgórze district until 1990.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica12.krakow.pl/ |title=Bieżanów-Prokocim District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica12.krakow.pl |date=2014-04-17 |access-date=2014-04-28}} It borders Podgórze to the north and Podgórze Duchackie to the west. The district takes its name from its constituent neighbourhoods of Bieżanów and Prokocim; it also contains the neighbourhoods of Bieżanów Kolonia, Kaim, Łazy and Rżąka, and a number of residential estates (osiedla): Bieżanów Nowy, Kolejowe, Medyków, Na Kozłówce, Nad Potokiem, Parkowe, Prokocim Nowy and Złocień.

Podgórze

{{main|Podgórze}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica XIII Podgorze.svg

File:RynekPodgorski-WidokWStronęKościołaŚwJózefa(NaPołudnie)-POL, Kraków.jpg

Podgórze is situated on the right (southern) bank of the Vistula River.{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Cracow |volume=7 |page=359}} Initially a fishing village at the foot of Lasota Hill, it was granted city status by the Austrian Emperor Joseph II in 1784. From 1784 to 1915 it was an independent township; in 1910 Podgórze was the 13th largest town in Galicia. Formerly a residential and light-industry suburb of Kraków, it is now a fully integrated part of the city, not a suburb. Historic Podgórze is also officially part of Kraków's old town or 'stare miasto'. Other neighborhoods include the old villages of Płaszów, Rybitwy and Przewóz. Podgórze's total population is listed at 31,599, within an area of 24.6 km2 (as of 31 December 2006).Cracow City Council official publication {{cite web|url=http://www.bip.krakow.pl/?sub_dok_id=15893|title=Population by district|access-date=2007-09-22|language=pl}}

The oldest man-made structure in Podgórze is the Krakus Mound on Lasota Hill, believed to be the grave of the legendary prince Krakus. Carl's Bridge, linking Podgórze with Kraków proper across the Vistula and located between today's Mostowa and Brodzińskiego streets, was built in 1802 and destroyed by a flood just 11 years later in 1813.

A new pedestrian-and-cyclists-only bridge was completed in the summer of 2010 on the site of the 19th century original.

Czyżyny

{{main|Czyżyny}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica XIV Czyzyny.svg

File:UlicaBolesławaOrlińskiego-WidokNaPółnoc-OsiedleNoweCzyżyny-POL, Kraków.jpg

Czyżyny is Kraków's Administrative District No. XIV.[http://www.dzielnica14.krakow.pl/ Czyżyny District homepage] It borders Grzegórzki, Prądnik Czerwony, Mistrzejowice, Bieńczyce, Nowa Huta, and (to the south, across the river) Podgórze. Until 1990 it was part of Nowa Huta district. It includes the former village of Czyżyny, as well as the neighbourhood of Łęg and a number of residential estates.

Mistrzejowice

{{main|Mistrzejowice}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica XV Mistrzejowice.svg

File:OsiedleZłotegoWieku-WidokOdPołudniowegoZachodu-POL, Kraków.jpg

Mistrzejowice is Kraków's Administrative District No. XV.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica15.krakow.pl/ |title=Mistrzejowice District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica15.krakow.pl |access-date=2014-04-28}} It borders Prądnik Czerwony, Czyżyny, Bieńczyce and Wzgórza Krzesławickie. It includes the neighbourhoods of Batowice, Dziekanowice and Mistrzejowice, and a number of residential estates.

Bieńczyce

{{main|Bieńczyce (Kraków)}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica XVI Bienczyce.svg

File:OsiedlePrzyArce-BlokiDziesięciopiętrowe13,15,17,19-POL, Kraków.jpg

Bieńczyce is Kraków's Administrative District No. XVI.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica16.krakow.pl/ |title=Bieńczyce District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica16.krakow.pl |access-date=2014-04-28}} It borders Czyżyny to the south-west, Mistrzejowice to the north-west, Wzgórza Krzesławickie, to the north-east, and Nowa Huta to the south-east.

Wzgórza Krzesławickie

{{main|Wzgórza Krzesławickie}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica XVII Grebalow.svg

File:OsiedleNaWzgórzach-Bloki29,30-POL, Kraków.jpg

Wzgórza Krzesławickie ("Krzesławice Heights") is Kraków's Administrative District No. XVII. Until 24 May 2006 it was known as District XVII Grębałów. It borders Mistrzejowice and Bieńczyce to the west, and Nowa Huta to the south. The district of Wzgórza Krzesławickie comprises the former villages of Dłubnia, Grębałów, Kantorowice, Krzesławice, Lubocza, Łuczanowice, Wadów, Węgrzynowice, and Zesławice.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzielnica17.krakow.pl/ |title=Wzgórza Krzesławickie District homepage |publisher=Dzielnica17.krakow.pl |access-date=2014-04-28}}

Nowa Huta

{{Main|Nowa Huta}}

Image:Kraków dzielnica XVIII Nowa Huta.svg

File:Nowa Huta - Plac Centralny z lotu ptaka.jpg

Nowa Huta (literally "New Steel Mill") is the easternmost district of Kraków, numbered XVIII. With more than 200,000 inhabitants it is one of the most populous areas of the city.

The historic area of present-day Nowa Huta is one of the few places in Poland settled continuously since the Neolithic period. Archeological research has discovered a big Celtic settlement and Poland's oldest Slavic settlements there. A mound was erected by Vistulans in the 8th century. According to legend, the Wanda Mound is a tomb of Wanda, daughter of Krak, a mythical founder of Kraków. In the 13th century a Cistercian monastery was built in the easternmost village of Mogiła, called the Mogiła Abbey.[http://www.mogila.cystersi.pl/fla/gb.html ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610060905/http://www.mogila.cystersi.pl/fla/gb.html |date=June 10, 2008 }}

Nowa Huta was built from the ground up in 1949 as a separate town near Kraków on terrain resumed by the Communist Government from former villages of Mogiła, Pleszów and Krzesławice. It was planned as a huge centre of heavy industry around the new Lenin Steelworks. The town was to become an ideal town for the communist propaganda and populated mostly by industrial workers (see: Socialist realism in Poland). In 1951 it was joined with Kraków as its new district and the following year tramway communication was started.

Since the fall of Communism the city district that was once a showpiece for Stalinism now boasts many tributes to ardent anti-Communism. Streets formerly named after Lenin and the Cuban Revolution have been renamed to honor Pope John Paul II and the Polish exile leader Władysław Anders. In 2004 Plac Centralny, Nowa Huta's central square which once was home to a giant statue of Lenin - on display at High Chaparral Museum in Hillerstorp Sweden, was renamed Ronald Reagan Central Square (Plac Centralny im. Ronalda Reagana) in honor of the former U.S. President.{{cite web|url=http://cracow-life.com/news/news/134-A_Day_Out_In_Lenin_Land |title="A Day out in Lenin's Land"|publisher=Cracow-life.com |access-date=2014-04-28}}[https://archive.today/20070312020959/http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=56&story_id=23699 The story at www.expatica.com] However, this decision led to many protests,{{cite web|url=http://www.nowahuta.org.pl/index.php?dzial=218 |title=Relevant chapter at www.nowahuta.org.pl |publisher=Nowahuta.org.pl |date=2008-07-13 |access-date=2014-04-28}}[http://www.zyciekrakowa.pl/nowahuta/content/view/311/57/ Nowa Huta at www.zyciekrakowa.pl] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724181853/http://www.zyciekrakowa.pl/nowahuta/content/view/311/57/ |date=July 24, 2011 }} and the traditional name is still widely used.

See also

References

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