New Square in Kraków

Plac Nowy ("New Square") is one of the most distinctive squares in Kraków and the beating heart of the Kazimierz district. At its centre stands a round hall known as the Okrąglak, and around it daily neighbourhood life has unfolded for generations: trading, street food, chance meetings and evenings out in the nearby bars.

What is Plac Nowy?

It is a city square in Kazimierz, once a separate town and now part of Kraków's Old Town district. The streets Nowa, Rabina Meiselsa and Warszauera lead off from it, while Estery Street closes off its eastern side. It was formerly known as Plac Kupa, and many locals still simply call it the Jewish Square, a reminder of the character this part of the city once had.

How did the square and the Okrąglak come about?

The square took its present shape in the first half of the 19th century. Before that, a cluster of lanes and buildings known as Libuszhof stood here, and the layout was set by regulation plans of 1808 and 1844. The area belonged to the former Jewish town in Kazimierz.

The Okrąglak was designed by architect Jan Rzymkowski. The twelve-sided hall opened in 1900 and held small shops. The eastern part of the building housed a poultry slaughterhouse where killing followed kosher rules. Growing demand for kosher meat eventually led to a larger slaughterhouse, rebuilt to a design by Józef Weinberger and opened in January 1928.

During the German occupation the slaughterhouse was closed. After the war, ordinary small-scale trade returned to the building, although for a long time many of the stalls served mainly as storerooms for vendors who sold their goods outside at open-air stands. The building was entered in the register of monuments in 2008.

What to see and what to taste

The Okrąglak still serves as a place of trade and food: you will find grocery shops, butchers and eateries inside. It is also the home of Kraków's cult zapiekanka. The hatches around the hall serve dozens of variations. The dish dates back to communist-era Poland, when it was half a baguette with mushrooms and cheese; today it often comes with a wide choice of sauces and toppings. It is classic, quick Kraków street food, best eaten standing up while watching the square.

On market days the square fills with stalls selling vegetables, fruit and other goods, and in the evening it turns into a meeting place. Cafés, pubs and clubs surround it, giving the area a reputation as one of the liveliest spots in Kraków after dark. This is not a manicured showpiece square but a place with a raw, urban feel, associated with local subculture.

What is nearby?

Plac Nowy is an excellent starting point for a walk around Kazimierz. Just next to it runs Józefa Street, with boutiques, street art, bars and cafés. A few blocks away is Szeroka Street with the Old Synagogue and the Remuh Cemetery. Nearby also stands the former B'nei Emuna synagogue, rescued from ruin in the 1990s and now linked with the Judaica Foundation.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Plac Nowy sometimes called the Jewish Square? The square lies in the heart of old Jewish Kazimierz, and at its centre stood a kosher poultry slaughterhouse. The popular name survives in the memory of Kraków residents.

What was the Okrąglak used for? It was built as a market hall with small shops, and its eastern part held a poultry slaughterhouse run according to kosher rules.

Is it worth coming in the evening? Yes, if you enjoy a lively atmosphere. Many venues cluster around the square, and the zapiekanka hatches attract locals and visitors alike.

How can I combine the visit with other sights? Include the square in a walk around Kazimierz: Józefa Street, Szeroka Street, the Old Synagogue and the Remuh Cemetery are all within a short walk.