Kraków Barbican

Barbican
Barbakan
Barbican and Florian Gate.
The former entrance gate to medieval Kraków.
Established1498
LocationKraków, Poland
Coordinates50°03′55.7″N 19°56′29.8″E / 50.065472°N 19.941611°E / 50.065472; 19.941611
ManagerMałgorzata Niechaj
DirectorMichał Niezabitowski
CuratorMałgorzata Niechaj
Websitemhk.pl/branches/barbican/
Barbican
Barbakan
Site information
TypePolish Gothic outpost
Site history
Built1498
TypeCultural
Criteriaiv
Designated1978
Part ofHistoric Centre of Kraków
Reference no.29bis
Designated1994-09-08
Part ofKraków – historic city center
Reference no.M.P. 1994 nr 50 poz. 418


The Barbican (Polish: Barbakan) is a barbican – a fortified outpost once connected to the city walls. It is a historic gateway leading into the Old Town of Kraków, Poland. The barbican is one of the few remaining relics of the complex network of fortifications and defensive barriers that once encircled the royal city of Kraków in the south of Poland. It currently serves as a tourist attraction and venue for a variety of exhibitions.

Today the Barbican is under the jurisdiction of The Historical Museum of the City of Kraków. Tourists may tour its interior with its displays outlining the historical development of fortifications in Kraków.