city and capital of Małopolskie województwo (province), southern Poland, lying on both sides of the upper Vistula River. One of the largest cities in Poland, it is known primarily for its grand historic architecture and cultural leadership; UNESCO designated its old town area a World Heritage site in 1978. Its marketplace, Rynek Główny (Main Square), has existed since the 13th century, and a modern landscaped area is laid out on the site of past fortifications.

When King Władysław I (the Short) (Władysław I) reunited Poland, he made Kraków his capital in 1320, after which the kings of Poland were traditionally crowned in Wawel Castle and entombed in Wawel Cathedral. Throughout the 14th century Kraków served as Poland's economic and political centre and as a major trading point between England and Hungary. Concurrently, it grew into the nation's intellectual and cultural locus, as evidenced by one of its main surviving medieval structures, the Jagiellonian University. Founded as the Academy of Kraków by Casimir III (the Great) (Casimir III) in 1364, the university gained prestige throughout the centuries, drawing scientists, artists, and scholars from across the continent; it is the second oldest university in central Europe.

In 1918 Kraków was returned to Poland, only to be taken by the Germans at the beginning of World War II. The German governor, who made his headquarters in Wawel Castle, executed the university's teaching staff and sent some 55,000 Jews from the city to the Auschwitz II (Birkenau) death camp (Auschwitz). In 1945 Kraków was liberated by rapidly advancing Soviet forces, and it suffered far less damage than other cities in the region. After the war, the Soviet-backed Polish government rebuilt Kraków's industry, which includes textile milling and chemical works, based on nearby salt and limestone deposits; there is also food processing and stonecutting. The creation of the giant Nowa Huta steelworks at Mogiła (formerly located to the east, now part of the city) sealed Kraków's transformation from a university city to an industrial centre. The city's factory workers played a role in Poland's labour movement of the 1980s, and the economic strength of its heavy industry helped Kraków weather the country's economic turbulence after the fall of the communist regime. However, the massive refineries and manufacturing facilities have turned the area into one of the most polluted in Europe, threatening public health and the city's architectural treasures.

Thousands of historic buildings and sites dot the city. Most prominent are the many churches, including St. Mary's Church (Kościół Mariacki), the main section of which dates from 1497. It contains a stained-glass window from 1370 and a magnificent altar (1477–89) by Veit Stoss (Stoss, Veit) (Wit Stosz). Wawel Cathedral houses several ornate chapels and burial chambers, along with a collection of ecclesiastical art. Originally constructed in the early 11th century, the cathedral was rebuilt in 1142 and 1364, and it was renovated in 1712 in its current Gothic style. Two defensive fortifications remain from medieval times, a legacy of the city's perpetual struggle against invaders. The Barbican, a circular bastion with brick walls that are 10 feet (3 metres) thick, was built in the 15th century adjacent to the other remaining structure, the 13th-century Florian Gate. The city's Jewish quarter, in the district of Kazimierz, contains Remu'h Cemetery, which includes numerous well-preserved tombstones from the 16th century. Cloth Hall is a fine example of Renaissance architecture.