Zinar Castle

Today's Wolnica Square is part of the former market square of Kazimierz: there used to be a salt trade route towards Wieliczka and Bochnia.

Following the example of Krakow, the neighboring city of Kazimierz, shortly after its location in the 14th century, laid out its market through the center of which ran a trade salt route (today's Krakowska Street), leading towards Wieliczka and Bochnia. The large square (195 meters by 195 meters) was an administrative and commercial center. A town hall (which has survived to this day), a scales and a post-cut hall were erected here, and the shambles and cloth stalls divided it into two parts. Butchers operating outside the guild traded here once a week, on Saturdays. From this privilege - forum liberum (free trade law) - the name of the square is derived from.

Today's Wolnica Square, half the size of the original one, gained its borders after Kazimierz was incorporated into Krakow in 1800. In its south-eastern part there is a sculpture / fountain, Three Musicians - the work of the Krakow artist Bronisław Chromy. The commercial traditions of this place are reflected in, among others, The Bread Festival, Krakow Honey Harvest or the Lesser Poland Festival of Taste.

The only evidence of Kazimierz's former urban independence is the lofty town hall on Wolnica Square. Once gothic (relics of the 14th-century walls are preserved in the cellars), it burned down twice and was rebuilt each time. As a result of these changes, it gained battlement attics, rare in Krakow, and a tower covered with a modest cupola. After Kazimierz was incorporated into Krakow, the town hall lost its function and fell into ruin; with time, it was adapted to the needs of an industrial and commercial school, and later a primary school for Jewish youth. A plaque was placed on the eastern wall in 1996 to commemorate the admission to Poland of Jewish refugees persecuted in other parts of Europe during the reign of King Casimir the Great: it replaced the original bas-relief removed by the Germans during the occupation. After World War II, the Ethnographic Museum found its place here. The branch of the museum is located in nearby ul. Krakowska 46 in the Estera House. Tradition rather unreasonably links him with Esterka, a colorful figure of the Jewish mistress of King Casimir the Great, painted by Jan Długosz. What is certain, however, is that this gothic house (preserved cellars and stonework of windows) in the 16th century belonged to the builder and councilor of Kazimierz, Bartolomeo Berrecci. It is worth paying attention to the rarely seen mansard roof, known as the "Cracovian" roof.