The Town Hall Tower

05/17/2012 10:22

The big tower that stands at the other end of the main square, opposite the Mariacki cathedral, is what remains of the old city hall. It’s called the “Ratusz,” or “Ratush.” Of all the times that I’ve been to, and even lived in, Krakow, this building is something about which I know very little. I’ve passed it literally hundreds of times, and it stands in the center of the most trafficked part of town. In retrospect, I can’t believe that not even once have I set foot inside.

The Ratusz was built sometime around the year 1300, and was the seat of the medieval city government. There supposedly was a dungeon and/or torture chamber located in the basement. It got its first clock in the 1500s and is said to lean a bit. Today, the tower houses a tourist office, as well as a theatre in the basement. Also, there are two friendly, but lazy, stone lions outside. I don’t know how much they actually guard the inside of the building, but I will say that they are a convenient place to arrange to meet. Maybe this time around, we’ll decide to take a quick tour of the tower and climb to the top for a bird’s eye view of the square. Or maybe a frosty adult beverage in the beer garden below might be a better idea.