Rynek Underground

Interactive displays, 3D holographic models, film and artefacts dating back to medieval times come together in a museum that has won international acclaim. Archaeologists working on this exhibition wanted to bring visitors directly into Krakow of the middle ages - and did so by uncovering the remains of buildings that once stood on the market square. In the process, they also demonstrated that Krakow's market square was originally several metres lower than it is today - and that centuries of city life and debris have raised the surface level markedly. Sections of the old paths that ran across the square, and the foundations of some of the market stalls, have been exposed and left in situ for visitors to examine, so the city's history is right there before your eyes. There is also a fascinating section about burial practices, arising from the cemeteries around Krakow's churches that were discovered during the excavations.