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All Poland Krakow Rynek Underground
AO Edited

Rynek Underground

Beneath Kraków Old Town's main square lies a hologram-filled medieval market vampire graveyard wonderland.

Krakow, Poland

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Rynek Underground Cemetery   Robin
Rynek Underground   Jorge Láscar
Suspended glass walkways take you through excavated medieval structures   Jorge Láscar
Old Polish Cart   Jorge Láscar
Smithy’s house   Ministry of Foreign Affair's of the Republic of Poland
Watching tv, smelting metal   Jorge Láscar
Cowl party   Jorge Láscar
Jewelry bits and bobs in a sweet display case   Jorge Láscar
Glass-enclosed model of medieval Kraków   Ministry of Foreign Affair's of the Republic of Poland
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Vampire burial   dysleski / Atlas Obscura User
Ruins   dysleski / Atlas Obscura User
Real skull   dysleski / Atlas Obscura User
Sukiennice - Entrance to Podziemia Rynku is at the first archway from the left   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Podziemia Rynku: 693-kilogram lead slab   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Museum view   dysleski / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Standing on the cobblestones of Kraków's historic market square, it would be easy to miss the 4,000-square-meter archaeological site/high-tech multimedia extravaganza a mere four meters below your feet, known as Rynek Underground.

The subterranean excavation of the square began in 2005, after the discovery of various artifacts around Kraków's famous Cloth Hall led to speculation about what else might be found below street level. What was discovered was a treasure trove of items and structural remnants that paint a vivid picture of everyday commercial life in Kraków over the past 700 years, and even beyond.

The unique, fully-underground excavation uncovered not only the remnants of merchant stalls and various quotidian objects — such as weights, coins, clothing, and jewelry — but also preserved stretches of medieval thoroughfares, remnants of a settlement that was destroyed by raiding Tatars in 1241, centuries-old aqueducts, and a cemetery showcasing some of the peculiar burial practices of the 11th century.

Rynek Underground, opened in 2010, is the museum that was built to showcase this treasure trove of Kraków history, and mixes the artifacts and restored archaeological sites with lasers, smoke machines, holograms, and 600 three-dimensional models of everyday objects manipulated via 37 touchscreens. Visitors to Rynek Underground are first greeted by holographic 14th-century Krakovians projected onto a curtain of smoke, which is parted to reveal an immersive environment representing daily life in medieval Kraków

Included in the historical cornucopia are displays depicting burial practices from 1,000 years ago, including the method for burying a suspected vampire. Long-established in Polish folklore, vampires were believed to only become creatures of the night after death. Likely candidates for future vampirism could be identified via their red hair or rows of extra teeth. In order to prevent the undead from rising, “vampires” were buried in a fetal position, with hands tied and heads cut off and placed beneath their feet. This would, it was believed, slow them down quite a bit upon reanimation — and you can see it in practice at Rynek Underground.

Given the popularity of the museum and the fact that occupancy is limited to 300 at a time, visitors are advised to buy tickets in advance for a particular entry time. If you have kids, don’t miss the kids’ room, which includes a rousing automated puppet show. If you like lead, don’t miss the 693-kilogram “lead loaf,” which was a highly valuable metal before people figured out that it’s pretty poisonous.

Related Tags

Museums Museums And Collections Graveyards Hidden Underground Vampires Medieval Archaeology Cemeteries

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kaila

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RHyzer, Jaszmina Szendrey, rbenn250, dysleski

  • RHyzer
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • rbenn250
  • dysleski

Published

March 18, 2016

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  • http://www.inyourpocket.com/krakow/Rynek-Underground_72197v
  • http://blogs.transparent.com/polish/rynek-underground-museum-in-krakow/
  • http://cracow.travel/places-to-go/museums/historical-museum-of-the-city-of-krakow/action,get,id,12184,t,Rynek-Underground.html
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rynek_Underground_permanent_exhibition
Rynek Underground
Rynek Główny 1
Krakow, 33-332
Poland
50.061877, 19.93767
Visit Website
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