Polishing the jewel of Poland

Lokale Immobilia spoke to the city's Mayor about his plans for the new face of Kraków.

According to the Małopolska Tourist Organization some 2.35 million tourists visited Kraków in 2005. John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice enjoyed major growth last year, as the number of passengers served rose by nearly 100 percent year-on-year to reach more than 1.5 million in 2005. The city has been on the World Cultural Heritage list since 1978 and in 2000 it was named a European City of Culture. Despite its pedigree, local authorities have changes in mind and are taking a hands-on approach towards tourism and prospective investments.

Dusting down the antiques
Kraków already has a great deal of tourist attractions, many of which are in need of renovation. Near the top of the list is the Sukiennice (or Cloth Hall).

"Kraków's Rynek used to be three meters lower than it is now. During archaeological works carried out under the Market Square, we discovered 13th-century walls and large and small weights. There is also the 'rich stall', which used to be part of a basement, but is now worth showing to the public," says the Mayor of Kraków, Jacek Majchrowski. The city intends to launch a medieval Kraków tourist route, and according to Majchrowski, if the archaeological works are completed on time, the first tourist could take the route on the 750th anniversary of the city's foundation, which will be celebrated next year.

In the meantime, works are being done on ul. Floriańska in Kraków, which is part of the city's Royal Route linking the main Market Square and the Barbican. City Hall plans to revitalize the neglected Small Market Square (Mały Rynek) by getting rid of an existing car-park and replacing the surface. The aim is to create an alternative to the main Market Square, as the sheer number of events taking place on the main square is proving detrimental to the area.

The view from the hill
City Hall also recently chose a project for the vicinity of Wawel Castle. Architects from Kraków-based IMB Asymetria have come up with an idea to combine the old Wawel Hill with a modern tourist center. Another tourist center, which will feature three stained-glass windows designed by the legendary artist Stanisław Wyspiański, will be based on Plac Wszystkich Świętych.

The historic Jewish district of Kazimierz is proving very fashionable of late. Kraków City Hall has already renovated Plac Bohaterów Getta and has announced a competition for renovations on Plac Wolnica, and it also wants to renovate the Baza building for a cultural center. The Schindler factory will be an exhibition space for artists, and will also display elements of Jewish culture. "We also want to show the Jewish culture that ceased to exist during the Holocaust. It was the greatest Jewish culture of that time and it died out so quickly," says Majchrowski.

Parking is an ever-present problem in city planning and the Kraków authorities plan to build a number of underground parking lots in the city center. "If all goes as planned the first such car park located next to the Philharmonic and the Radisson Hotel will be ready in September. Another one will be located on Plac Szczepański," says Majchrowski.

New face of Nowa Huta
City Hall has announced a competition for developing the area of the former concentration camp in Płaszów and officials are also keen to promote the Nowa Huta district. Traditionally it has been associated with the dreaded socialist city planning, but Majchrowski says the city wants to renovate the district's Plac Centralny. In the past major events in Kraków were held in Błonia Krakowskie, but Łąki Nowa Huta is bigger and could prove a more suitable venue in the future. There is also a social-realistic cinema which will be transformed into a cultural center.

The Ministry of the Environment has approved the construction of a three-level junction on Rondo Ofiar Katynia, which will ease traffic heading towards Olkusz, Katowice and Nowa Huta. Plots are being bought for the new Kraków-Warsaw S7 route and the Regional Directorate of National Roads and Highways plans to complete a city ring-road by 2012.

Rooms to rent
Tourists and other visitors can choose from at least 400 restaurants, cafes, clubs and pubs within the Old Town alone. The number of hotels in the city is satisfactory but it could be much better. Soon a huge luxurious hotel will be opened on ul. Szczepańska, and a Qubus Hotel in Podgórze has plans to build a marina. The city is encouraging investors to locate their developments not only in the center but also on the left bank of the Vistula river.

"Some time ago there was a discussion whether there is any point in building five-star hotels in Kraków. Now we have four five-star hotels and they are almost full for the next couple of months. We are now considering construction permits for another nine hotels," says Mayor Majchrowski.

City Hall has prepared a spatial development plan and has designated an area beside Balice Airport for an international fair center and a logistics center. The area is scheduled for development within the next three or four years. In the meantime, Mayor Majchrowski wants to sign contracts for the development of a conference center near Rondo Grunwaldzkie. "We have already discussed that with several investors interested in the project. The talks have not brought any results so far because each developer wanted to build a hypermarket in the area, which we didn't want to agree to. There are other investors who are interested in the center and talks are ongoing. We want to build a conference center that would simultaneously be a concert hall for 2,500 people," says Majchrowski.

Young men, there's a place you can go...
City Hall has just announced a tender for a youth sports and education center on ul. Ptaszyckiego and ul. Klasztorna, close to the Hutnik stadium in Nowa Huta. "Safety does not only come down to the fact that we will have more policemen on the streets, but also to providing young people with appropriate facilities to organize their time. This would be based on the ideals of the pre-war YMCA," says Majchrowski. In September construction works will be launched on another sports and event center, located in Czyżyny, which will hold 15,000 people and, according to the Mayor, the city has already erected half of the stadium that Kraków needs should Poland win the race to host the UEFA European Championships in 2012. The works on the other half are in progress.

Budget travel
One of the major factors in boosting the number of visitors to Kraków was the development of low-cost airlines, which the city managed to attract to John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice in February 2002. Currently the airport plans to spend zł.120 million on expanding its facilities to handle three million passengers annually and fulfill the requirements of the Schengen Agreement, which Poland will sign next year.

Now City Hall wants to provide direct transport from the airport to the city center using fast trams. "When the railway connection is launched it will take 15 minutes to get from the airport to the city center. We are planning to sign a contract with a new company that will implement the fast-tram project in April," says Majchrowski.

Setting the bar high
Officials in Kraków's City Hall and in the Marshal's office are aware that Kraków is currently enjoying its day in the sun, but tourists' tastes are fickle and the city will have to work hard to maintain the steady flow of visitors. "Kraków is well known but that is restricted mostly to school trips that visit Wawel Castle. If we want Kraków to live on tourism some actions have to be taken. We have been promoting the city internationally. The campaigns are directed at tourists and investors. Some of the campaigns will be repeated this year and spread to other countries. The city is attractive itself but that doesn't mean it will be so forever," says Mayor Majchrowski.