Szeroka Street

You’re now in the heart of Kraków’s Jewish history. Legend has it that here on Szeroka Street, King Casimir the Great first laid the foundations for the city’s university. In 1495, King John Albert issued a decree forcing Kraków’s Jewish population to relocate here, outside the city walls. Over time, it grew into a vibrant Jewish town of its own. Szeroka means “wide” in Polish, and this broad street once served as a market square and the community’s commercial and spiritual center. It was home to four synagogues—a rarity not just in Poland, but across Europe. Two of them are still standing today: the Remuh Synagogue and the Old Synagogue. The Popper Synagogue, funded by Wolf Popper, now houses the Youth and Cultural Centre. The fourth synagogue, called “Na Górce,” was destroyed during World War II. Local legend says that on some nights, a faint light glows in the windows of the building that now stands in its place. They say it’s the spirit of Natan Spira, a 17th-century kabbalist once believed to perform miracles, returning to read sacred texts by candlelight. If you’re curious—come back after dark and see for yourself… If you’re unfamiliar with Judaism, here’s a quick introduction to the Kabbalah. In Jewish tradition, when Moses received the Torah—the written law—on Mount Sinai, he also received a secret oral law: the Kabbalah. This esoteric tradition explores metaphysical questions about God, humanity, and the universe, offering a mystical and intellectual path to divine understanding. The most famous text from this mystical school is the Book of Enoch, written three centuries before Christ. It describes a celestial journey and reveals the secrets of creation. Now you know a little more about the kabbalists.