Palace of Arts, Krakow

The city of Krakow is filled with historic monuments and structures from different eras of architectural history, and therefore, Krakow is nicknamed the art capital of Poland. One such place to marvel at the historical and architectural wealth of the city is the Palace of Arts. This present day museum houses some of the finest and most prestigious exhibitions in the city. Works of established artists and those who have gained global reputation are proudly displayed at the Palace of Arts. The venue is also used for art auctions and exhibitions of contemporary Polish art.

The building was constructed as the headquarters of the Society of Friends of Fine Arts (Stowarzyszenie Przyjaciol Sztuk Pieknych in Polish) which was founded in 1854. Erected at the beginning of the 20th century, the Palace of Arts is the first Art Nouveau structure in Krakow. Designer Francis Mączyński was said to have drawn inspiration from the Pavilion Secession in Vienna for the construction of the Palace of Arts.

The facade of the structure was designed by the famous symbolist painter Jacek Malczewski. Other famous Polish artists like Madeyski Antoni , Konstanty Laszczka and Theodore Rygier contributed to the facade with busts of masters of Polish art.

Image Courtesy of Flickr and Allie_Caulfield.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Krakow. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Palace of Arts
Sight Location: Krakow, Poland (See walking tours in Krakow)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in Krakow, Poland

Create Your Own Walk in Krakow

Creating your own self-guided walk in Krakow is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Historical House Museums Tour

Well-preserved historical buildings can often tell the stories of their city more vividly than any history book. Krakow, the old capital and cultural center of Poland, for many years, has been the home of many important Poles. Today, their former residences have been converted into house museums where visitors can learn about their inhabitants and see what life was like in the past.

One such... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

Historical Churches Walking Tour

Krakow, the center of religious life in Poland, was once considered “the Northern Rome” for its multitude of churches. Alongside the new temples continuing to appear in the city today, these remarkable sanctuaries, holding deep historical and cultural significance, still remain the most attractive and interesting to look at.

By far the most iconic of these is the Basilica of Saint Mary. A... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles

Krakow Introduction Walking Tour

A unique entry on the list of the World Heritage Sights, Krakow is a recognized center of the academic, artistic and cultural life of Poland. Established in the 7th century as a tiny hamlet at the top of the Wawel Hill, overlooking the Vistula River, it is one of the country's oldest cities. Over the course of the next fifteen centuries it has evolved into the nation's second-largest... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Jewish Heritage Tour in Krakow

The Jewish community has been an integral part of Krakow since the late 13th century. On the eve of World War II, there were 60,000 Jews living in the city, mostly in the historic Kazimierz neighborhood, which accounted for a quarter of the local population. The old town square in Kazimierz was the center of Jewish life.

During the war, the Nazis separated ethnic Jews from the rest of... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles