House Under the Cross

This house hides the foundations of the mediaeval hospital for scholars (i.e. students) and the Gothic Chapel of St Roch. The chronicler Jan Długosz claims that it was built in 1474. It was in the care of the Order of the Holy Spirit de Saxia from a nearby monastery that has not survived to our times. In the centuries that followed, the house had a chequered history: "Dom pod Krzyżem" burned down in the 16th century to be rebuilt and fall into ruin towards the end of the 18th century. In 1790, the Parish of St Mary's became its owner, and earmarked it for servants of the church after certain renovations. Today, the unique Polish style roof truss of the Kraków type comes from reconstruction carried out in the 1830s. At the same time, a Gothic frieze from moulded brickwork, visible from the ul. św. Marka side, was discovered under the eaves.

Purchased by the City Council in the early 20th century, the House under the Cross was bestowed on the Union of Polish Artists in 1917. It was here that the avant-garde Cricot Theatre, established by Józef Jarema, began operation in 1933. (Tadeusz Kantor's theatre, which operated in the 1950s, was clearly influenced by its innovative ideas.) After the theatre moved to the new "Dom Plastyka" in Łobzowska Street in 1935, the House under the Cross became a museum.

Since 1958 it has been the headquarters of the Stanisław Wyspiański Theatre Museum presenting a permanent exhibition on the "History of Kraków Theatre" and temporary exhibitions in the so-called Theatre Gallery.

The name of the house comes from the 18th-century cross situated on the façade. (The one currently visible is a copy.)