Cloth Hall/Sukiennice Reviews (Krakow, Poland)

Sukiennice Cloth Hall Gallery

Rath Cairn, Ireland

March 11, 2005

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Downstairs you can get good quality Polish craft items, like slippers (czapki), dolls, crystal, amber jewellery, wooden boxes, painted wooden eggs, and paper art. It is free to go in, but usually you don't come out without having spent your money ...Read more

From journal Krakow In the Snow

The Cloth Hall and Cloth Hall Gallery

by mightywease

Carshalton, United Kingdom

July 2, 2004

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Best of IgoUgo The Cloth Hall (Sukiennce) stands proudly in the centre of Rynek Glowny, the medieval market square at the heart of the old city. It is an impressive building and one you will probably find yourself coming back to, whether it is to stroll through ...Read more The Cloth Hall (Sukiennce) stands proudly in the centre of Rynek Glowny, the medieval market square at the heart of the old city. It is an impressive building and one you will probably find yourself coming back to, whether it is to stroll through its arcades, sit in one of its cafes or walk round and admire its facade.

Construction of the Cloth Hall began in 1344, a covered structure which would augment and provide protection for some of the market stalls which crowded into the square. The building was rebuilt, after suffering damage through fire, in 1555 with further reconstruction in the 19th century.

The long oblong building with its cream and brown stonework, internal and external arcades is still linked to its commercial roots. Walk through the inner arcade and you’ll find stalls selling a variety of souvenirs, from amber jewellery, carved wooden figures of both secular and religious subjects, to lace items and leather bags. It’s a pleasant place to browse for gifts and mementos. If the weather is good, sit outside at one of the tables in the outer arcade and enjoy a coffee or beer as you people-watch the activity in the square. If the weather is bad, sit inside one of the cafes and do the same!

On the outside of the Sukiennce, opposite the EMPiK, is the entrance to the upper storey and the Cloth Hall Gallery. A branch of the National Museum, the Cloth Hall Gallery contains 19th and early 20th century paintings by Polish artists. I would recommend that anyone going to Krakow make time to visit this gallery. It is a little gem!

The gallery itself is fairly small and intimate but the paintings are far from diminutive. Huge canvases such as 'Nero's Torches' by Henryk Siemiradzki and 'Four-in-Hand' by Jozef Chelmonski dominate and impress with their artistry and scope. Historical and romantic subjects are housed alongside symbolist paintings.

The small size of the gallery and the number of paintings displayed means that it doesn't take too long to look round. Though you may find, like we did, that you linger longer in order to sit and stare at every little detail in some of the pictures. For instance the sense of speed and power conveyed by Chelmonski in 'Four-in-Hand' is exhilarating.

The paintings are interesting, effecting and evocative. Of all the wonderful sights in Krakow, the paintings in here left a very vivid impression.

**Please note that the Cloth Hall Gallery is closed for refurbishment till 2009, the bulk of the gallery's collections has been moved to the Niepolomice Castle, about 20km out of Krakow, with some also on show at the National Museum, 1 Al. 3 Maja, in Krakow** Close

From journal Krakow - History, Culture and Legends

Craft Hall

by Red38Man

Minneapolis, Minnesota

November 7, 2003

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In the center of the main market square is the Craft-hall. A beautiful building itself, the interior is lined with stalls of vendors hawking everything from amber to t-shirts. This is a great place to shop for amber (native to northern Poland), and ...Read more

From journal Kracow, Krakow, Cracow, Krakova, etc.

Craft Hall and center of Old Town

by JulieHolm

Vienna, Virginia

February 7, 2003

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We moved on to old town Krakow, which is surrounded by a beautiful city park. We walked to the central square where the Cloth Hall sits in the center. This is a huge building full of handicraft merchants. We did a lot of buying here, including a ...Read more

From journal A day visit to Krakow

The Sukiennice

by RJMorris

Nottingham, United Kingdom

July 18, 2002

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The Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) is worth visiting to appreciate the beautiful building, but a walk around and through the building reveals a wealth of small shops and craft stalls, many of which sell unique handmade crafts, such as carved wooden toys or ...Read more

From journal Krakow, poland's best kept secret

Sukienice

by Hajo

Witten, Germany

May 21, 2002

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Best of IgoUgo Sukienice, the old cloth market, is the market hall at the center of Rynek Glowny, the Market Square. Around 100 meters long and built over two levels, Sukienice is an outstanding building at the center of Krakow both architecturally and ...Read more

From journal Little Poland, Big Time

Sukiennice (Cloth Halls)

by Scubabartek

Warszawa, Poland

October 18, 2000

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Best of IgoUgo One of the greatest souvenir stand locations in the world! The old trading hall has been completely restored and repainted and now houses dozens if not close to a hundred souvenir stands, cafes, galleries etc. You can get anything here, but you ...Read more

From journal Krakow - the New Prague, only better

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