Tourism - Route

Nowa Huta Route

1. Administrative Centre of T. Sendzimir Steelworks - The northern building
This architectural complex is most characteristic for Nowa Huta Socialist Realist constructions. Two twin structures designed by J. Ballenstedt and J. Ingarden, and raised in the years 1952 - 1955, frame the main entrance to the steelworks. The northern building closes the perspective of Aleja Solidarności Street. The Administrative Centre alludes to Italian Renaissance and Baroque palaces, and hence the buildings are commonly dubbed "Vaticans" or "Doge's Palaces". Crowned with imposing attic walls, they imitate the typical motive of Krakow 16th- and 17th - century architecture.


2. Krzesławice - The Church of St John the Baptist and Our Lady of the Scapular
The Church of St John the Baptist and Our Lady of the Scapular. Originally built in Jawornik near Myślenice in the years 1633 - 1648 and expanded several times. In 1983, the church was badly damaged and devastated. During the following two years it was moved to the present site and reconstructed as/along with an open - air skansen - type museum. (DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ORIGINAL SENTENCE) It is a good example of typical Polish wooden church architecture. Preserved inside are parts of the original wall paintings from the time of construction, including a Baroque pulpit, and late - Gothic crucifix.


Jan Matejko's House
The village of Krzesławice was first mentioned in the 13th century. During its history it was in the hands of the Miechów Chapter of the Guardians of the Holy Sepulchre and of the University of Krakow. After the year 1788, it belonged to an eminent representative of the Polish Enlightenment, Hugo Kołłątaj, and after the year 1822, to the Kirchmayer merchant and banker family. In 1876, the new manor house erected by J. K Kirchmayer to replace the wooden one built at the time of Hugo Kołłataj, was purchased by the painter Jan Matejko, who renovated and expanded it by adding a summer studio and porch he designed himself. Since the year 1959, the manor has belonged to Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Sztuk Pięknych (Society of Friends of the Fine Arts) and has housed a reconstruction of Jan Matejko's living room and Hugo Kołłątaj's study. In front of the manor, a bronze bust of Matejko by Cz. Dźwigaj (1994).


3. Aleja Solidarności - The buildings of Stalowe residential district
Designed in the year 1949 as one of the five main axes in the urban composition of Nowa Huta in accordance with the urban design concept by T. Ptaszycki. It connects the city with the steelworks; in its ideological assumption, it was to become the "axis of labour". In the middle of the street, there is the oldest tram line in Nowa Huta, opened on 7th November, 1952. The buildings of Szkolne (School) and Stalowe (Steel) residential districts, framing the central section of the street, from a monumental architectonic setting, known as Nowa Huta Gate lying at the border of the green area dividing the city from the industrial district. Both Szkolne residential districts, raised after 1952, as well as Stalowe, built after the year 1953, were based on design by S. Juchnowicz, and remain representative examples of residential living complexes from the height of Socialist Realism.


4. Wandy and Willowe Residential Districts - The buildings of Willowe residential district
The first new style residential district built in Nowa Huta in the years 1949 - 1951, and divided by S. Mierzawy Street. The oldest square of Nowa Huta is situated near the crossroad with G. Daniłowskiego Street. Standing in the northern side of the square is Nowa Huta's first post office (originally housing also Międzyzwiązkowy Klub Robotniczy [Inter - Trade Union Workers Club]); in the western side, there is the building of Fama culture centre (originally: Gigant (Giant) restaurant and department store); and in the southern side, at 14 os. Wandy, the oldest residential block in the city. 23rd June, 1949, the date of commencing the works on the construction of the block, is considered to be the funding date of the City of Nowa Huta. These residential districts were built in the convention of a garden - city with standard two - storey and three - storey steep - roofed houses, designed by F. Adamski.


5. The Cistercian Monastery and Church - The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and St Venceslas
The northern part of the village of Mogiła continued to develop along Klasztorna Street until the year 1951 when the village was incorporated into Krakow. In the year 1222, the Bishop of Krakow, Iwo Odrowąż handed the village over to the Cistercians who raised a Gothic - Romanesque Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and St Wenceslas. The construction of the church, consecrated in 1266, continued with interruptions till 1350. Major overhauls of the church in the 18th century: after the fire of 1743, construction of the new façade in 1780, and Baroque redecoration of the interior in 1790. Numerous historic paintings and sculptures are preserved in the church; their number includes the crucifix in the chapel of the Holy Cross venerated since the Middle Ages, and Renaissance painting by Stanisław Samostrzelnik. The monastery, built in the 13th century, underwent numerous reconstructions. Preserved are its Gothic cloisters; adjacent to the monastery is the house of the Abbot from mid - 15th century and the Abbot's Palace (1569). In the garden, there is the so - called Square of John Paul II, with an altar for open - air religious ceremonies and the statue the Way of the Cross by Cz. Dźwigaj.

The Cistercian Monastery and Church - The Church of St Bartholomew
The Church of St Bartholomew used to be the Cistercian parish church. Constructed in the year 1466 by a carpenter, M. Mączka, the church building was expanded after the year 1740 and had chapels added. The construction is based on three aisles, which is a highly unique solution in Polish wooden architecture. The interior is decorated with Baroque wall paintings imitating architectural elements. Entrance to the churchyard through the belfry with entrance gates built in the year 1752.


6. Stefan Żeromski Specialist Hospital - Main building of the hospital
Initially Municipal, the hospital changed its name to Stefan Żeromski Specialist Hospital in the year 1974. Built from 1951 to 1954, the hospital complex had been designed by S. Porębowicz and S. Skrzyński. It is a complex of 17 buildings; the major one, with an imposing façade and projecting stairs, has all the features of Socialist Realism and makes reference to Baroque palace architecture. In front of the building, a bronze bust of the patron by M. Konieczny (1974). The hospital has 19 ward and offers medical treatment to 19, 000 patients annually. On the way to Central Square you will pass by the former Światowid Cinema (designed by A. Uniejewski and opened in 1958) whose architecture makes direct reference to 18th - century Classicism.



7. Centralny Square - Buildings of Centralny Square
The centre of the urban complex of Nowa Huta was designed in the years 1949 - 1952 by T. Ptaszycki and his team: B. Skrzybalski, A. Fołtyń, J. Ingarden, T. Janowski, S. Juchnowicz, and T. Rembiesa. The goal to make the new city reflect grand European urban centres became one of the prime objectives of Polish Socialist Realism. The Square remains unfinished: the central obelisk has never been raised, nor has the Square been closed with a monumental Culture Centre as was planned. Designed by J. Ingarden, the structures on the sides of the square were constructed from the year 1952 to 1956 and bring to mind Renaissance and Baroque structures. The Nowohuckie Culture Centre built on the southern side of the Square (Z. Pawelski, 1974 - 1983) and the Centrum E residential district (R. Loegler with team, 1988 - 1995) in the post - modernist style violate the original concept of Ptaszycki's.


8. Aleja Róż, Aleja Przyjaźni Streets - Aleja Róż Street closed by the design of city hall
In the centre of a spacious square, in its northern side, the City Hall of the city of Nowa Huta was to be built: this four - wing construction was to be crowned with a pseudo - Renaissance attic wall designed by T. Janowski. The tower of the City Hall, making a direct reference to that of Krakow, was to be the element shooting up over the Nowa Huta skyline and thus becoming its most important landmark. The monumental buildings adjacent to the square were to become the seats of political organizations, civic associations, offices, banks, and court. The design of Aleja Róż Street followed ideological concepts, and made it the route for marches and demonstrations. In the years 1973 - 1989, the statue of V. I. Lenin, designed by M. Konieczny, stood in the southern section of the broad street.


9. Aleja gen. W. Andersa and Ludźmierska Streets - The Świt Cinema
This is where urban complexes from the three periods of construction of Nowa Huta meet. The Teatralne residential district (built in the years 1950 - 1955) was the first to implement fully all the assumptions of Socialist Realism: construction on the perimeters, long spans of residential buildings connected with passages, monumentalized architecture decorated with historical motives. Zgody (Concord) residential district, raised in 1955, is similar in its character yet it underwent certain simplifications. Handlowe and Spółdzielcze residential districts, constructed in the years 1957 - 1961 to the design by B. Skrzybalski and T. Rembiesa, exhibit a move towards modern urban and architectural solutions. In M. Boruta - Spiechowicz Street, there is Nowa Huta's most interesting example of planned greenery.


10. Teatralne Residential District and Ludowy Theatre
On both sides of Obronców Krzyża Street, some of the oldest Nowa Huta constructions following the canons of Socialist Realism (1950 - 1953). Teatralne residential district, designed as the "culture quarter", houses the Świt Cinema and the Ludowy Theatre (1954 - 1955, by J. Ingarden and J. Dąbrowski). The construction of the theatre followed the decision not to built the Culture Centre in the southern part of Centralny Square. The operation of the theatre was inaugurated with the production of "Krakowiacy i Górale" ("Krakow Folk and Highlanders") by W. Bogusławski, whose title gave names to the two residential districts on the other side of the street. The play was staged in Mogiła. The theatre was one of the most important Polish stages after the Thaw of October 1956. At the crossing of Obrońców Krzyża and Ludźmierska Street, there stands a wooden cross. It commemorates the events of 27th April, 1960, when police suppressed a spontaneous demonstration in defence of the decision to built Nowa Huta's first church (after a competition for its design had already been held in 1957). The Museum of the Armed Effort (Muzeum Cynon Zbrojnego, est. in 1968) operates at 23 Os. Górali, by the Veterans' Club.


11. B. Włosik Square - Arka Pana Church
A cross commemorating the death of B. Włosik shot by state security during the demonstration of 13th October, 1982 in the centre of the square. The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of Poland, so - called Arka Pana (Church of the Lord's Ark) was built in the years 1967 - 1977 following the design by W. Pietrzyk. It was the first new church to be constructed in Nowa Huta. Abundant with symbols, the building was inspired by the chapel in Ronchamp and resembles a boat with mast in the form of the cross. It has a two-level interior; at its upper level there is a marble altar in the shape of an open hand, a tabernacle symbolizing the universe, and a highly expressive Crucified Christ by B. Chromy on the wall. The stations of the Way of the Cross, designed by M. Lipiński, 1980 - 1983, are highly allegorical: they make reference to the latest history of Poland. The bottom level includes a number of chapels, including the Chapel of Conciliation, with sculptures by A. Rząsa.