Exterior of the Kraków Barbican

©Filip Stańczyk/Lonely Planet

Barbican

Kraków


The most intriguing remnant of Kraków's medieval fortifications, the Barbican is a powerful, circular bastion adorned with seven turrets. There are 130 loopholes in its 3m-thick walls. This curious piece of defensive art was built in 1498 to protect the Florian Gate, and was once connected to it by a narrow passage running over a moat. These days, the Barbican and Florian Gate form a small museum on warfare called the City Defence Walls. One entry ticket gets you into both.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kraków attractions

1. Florian Gate

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2. Grunwald Monument

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This imposing monument celebrates the epic 1410 Battle of Grunwald, when a joint army of Poles and Lithuanians defeated the Teutonic Knights. This statue…

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