Hotels near Krakow Barbican and St Florian's Gate

At the northern edge of the Old Town, the Krakow Barbican (Barbakan) and St Florian's Gate (Brama Floriańska) are the only substantial survivors of the medieval city walls that once ringed the Rynek with eight kilometres of fortifications, 47 watchtowers, and seven gates. The walls were demolished in the early 19th century to create the Planty - the green-belt park that now circles the Old Town - but these two structures were spared as the city's main ceremonial entrance.

The Barbican itself is one of only three surviving Gothic barbicans in Europe and the best preserved. Built in 1498-99 as a forward defence against Ottoman incursions, the brick rotunda has three-metre-thick walls, seven turrets, and 130 firing loopholes; the interior now houses a small museum on Krakow's military history. Walk through the connecting neck onto Floriańska Street, the most famous shopping street in the Old Town, and look up at St Florian's Gate (1307) - the surviving 33-metre tower above the gate carries a Baroque eagle and a copy of the city's miraculous image of the Virgin.

This stretch is part of the historic Royal Road, the coronation route Polish kings walked from St Florian's Gate down to Wawel Cathedral.

Pro Tip: Combine the Barbican-Gate visit with the 90-minute walk down the Royal Road (Floriańska to Grodzka, ending at Wawel) for the best single self-guided introduction to the Old Town. The Barbican is open seasonally, usually April to October; check muzeumkrakowa.pl before going.