User:Wojciech.pospula/sandbox/City Defence Walls of Kraków

The first information about Krakow’s defensive system comes from the times of reign of Leszek the Black (1279-1288). Moat with wooden fortifications (their construction began from the north side of the City) were protecting from enemy attacks. Further expansion of the baileys and strengthening works were during the reign of PL:Waclaw II (1291-1305) when the fortifications were started to be built from stone.

Masonry gates like: the Butcher's Gate (Rzezników), the Goldsmiths’ Gate (Grodzka), the St. Florian's Gate, The Coppersmiths’ Gate (Wislna), the Tailors’ Gate (Slawkowska), the Butcher's Gate (Mikolajska), the Leather-dressers’ Gate (Szewska) and later the Bakers’ Gate (Nowa) were built at this time. Afterwards gates were joined with high and thick wall.

In the early 14th century masonry fortifications walled in whole the founded city. The baileys were widened for the just reconstructed fortifications of the ancient suburbia on the north side of the Wawel Castle hill during the reign of the Casimir III the Great (1333-1370).

In 1806 Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, the Austrian emperor’s, decided to demolish all of Krakow’s baileys. They were being taken down between 1810 – 1814 and in the first years of the Intependent City of Kraków. The St. Florian Baileys survived only thanks to strong intervention of architect, professor of the Jagiellonian University and senator of the Independent City of Krakow - PL:Feliks Radwanski (1756–1826).