Krakowskie Przedmiescie (Kraków Suburb), Warsaw

Kraków Suburb (Krakowskie Przedmieście) is a famous and prestigious street in Warsaw, known for its historical buildings like palaces, churches, and manor houses. This street is part of the Royal Route's northern section, connecting the Old Town and Royal Castle with key Warsaw landmarks such as the Presidential Palace, Warsaw University, and the Polish Academy of Sciences in Staszic Palace. South of Kraków Suburb, the Royal Route continues as New World Street (ulica Nowy Świat).

Originating in the 15th century as a trading route, Kraków Suburb is one of Warsaw's oldest avenues and the initial segment of the Royal Route, linking the Royal Castle with the 17th-century Wilanów Palace. By the 17th century, it had become a primary road in the new Polish capital, lined with palaces and manor houses.

In the 18th century, Italian painter Bernardo Bellotto, court painter to King Stanisław August Poniatowski, captured Warsaw's streets and architecture in great detail. His paintings were instrumental in the post-World War II reconstruction of Warsaw's historic district, particularly after the 1944 Warsaw Uprising and the city's systematic destruction by German forces.

By the 19th century, Kraków Suburb featured numerous Baroque and Classical-style churches and buildings. The street's evolution continued into the 20th century, marked by the construction of commercial spaces and hotels like the Hotel Bristol.

In recent times, architect Krzysztof Domaradzki has redesigned the street, drawing inspiration from historical records and Bellotto's detailed 18th-century paintings, blending traditional and modern elements in its appearance.