Kraków << KRAK ow, KRAHK ow, or KRAY koh >> (pop. 800,653) is a city that lies on the Vistula River in south-central Poland.
Kraków has long served as a center of Polish cultural life. The city is the home of Jagiellonian University, which was founded in 1364. Kraków also has many historic buildings and museums, including the Royal Castle. The Royal Castle, once the home of Poland’s kings, has important collections of paintings and tapestries.
Poland’s largest steel mill, the Nowa Huta plant, is located near Kraków. The city manufactures chemicals, drugs, leather, textiles, and processed foods.
Kraków had become an important crossroads of trade between Asia and Europe by the 700’s. The city was the capital of Poland from 1038 to 1596. Austria took control of Kraków in 1795. The city became self-governing in 1815, but Austria seized it again in 1848. Kraków was rejoined with Poland in 1920.
See also Galicia.
