Krzemionki

The mass of limestone rocks known as Krzemionki towers over the Podgórze landscape and reaches nearly 270 m (885 ft) asl at its summit. The original structure, differentiated geologically by its tectonic faults, rifts and chasms and karst formations, covers over 2.5 square kilometres (a square mile) and has always produced an aura of mystery and magic in this extraordinary place. According to one of the versions of the legend, it was here that the famous sorcerer, Jan Twardowski, had his workshop.

In 1896, a landscape park was opened in Krzemionki which later received the name of Wojciech Bednarski, the main instigator of its establishment. The stadium of the Korona Sports Club (1927), and also the state-of-the-art broadcasting centre for Telewizja Kraków (1966-1968), were later built in the vicinity of the park. Unfortunately, the increase in road traffic made it necessary to construct the multilane al. Powstańców Śląskich (1977-1978), which divided Krzemionki in two. An interesting oddity, besides the picturesque hills and the tower of Telewizja Kraków, is the so-called Silva Rerum mural painted on a wall running along the carriageway whose subject matter makes reference to Kraków’s centuries of history. Designed by Jerzy Rojkowski and produced by a group of anonymous Kraków graffiti artists, it commemorates the 750th anniversary of the Great Charter of Kraków (1257).