Timeline of Kraków

Prior to 20th century

1000 - Catholic diocese of Kraków established.

1044 - Benedictine Abbey of Tyniec established in Tyniec near Kraków.

1142 - Cathedral built (approximate date).

1241 - Kraków sacked by Tatars.

1257 - The town granted Magdeburg rights, signing of Lokacja Krakowa.

1306 - Kraków taken by Władysław Łokietek.

1313 - Kraków Town Hall built (approximate date).

1320 - Kraków becomes Polish capital.

1364

Cracow Academy founded.

Wawel Cathedral and Collegium Maius built.

1390 - Public clock installed (approximate date).

1395 - Kraków Cloth Hall built.

1397 - St. Mary's Basilica built.

1407 - Synagogue built in Kazimierz.

1420 - Bellmakers guild established.

1491

Paper mill established in Prądnik Czerwony.

Printing press in operation.

1521 - Sigismund Bell installed in tower of Wawel Cathedral.

1566 - Kraków arsenal built (near St. Florian's Gate).

1609 - Polish capital relocated from Kraków to Warsaw by Sigismund III Vasa (approximate date).

1610 - Bagel first mentioned.

1618 - Church of St. Adalbert rebuilt.

1619 - Saints Peter and Paul Church built.

1643 - Obergymnasium of St. Anna (school) built on St. Anna Street, Kraków.

1655 - Siege of Kraków (1655) by Swedish forces.

1702 - City taken by forces of Charles XII of Sweden.

1703 - Church of St. Anne, Kraków rebuilt.

1768 - City taken by Russian forces.

1781 - Theatre opens.

1783 - Botanic Garden of the Jagiellonian University founded.

1794

24 March: Kościuszko's proclamation against Russian rule occurs in Main Square.

June: Prussians in power.

1795 - City becomes part of Austria.

1809 - City becomes part of the Duchy of Warsaw.

1810 - Population: 23,612.

1815 - Republic of Krakow established per Congress of Vienna.

1820 - Most of Kraków Town Hall demolished (except tower).

1831 - City occupied by Russian forces.

1846

February: Kraków Uprising against Austrian forces; Polish National Government (Kraków Uprising) established.

November: City becomes part of Austria again; Grand Duchy of Cracow established.

1847 - Kraków Główny railway station built.

1848 - Czas newspaper begins publication.

1850 - 18 July: Kraków fire of 1850.

1851 - Population: 41,086.

1869 - July: Imprisonment of nun Barbara Ubryk discovered; unrest ensues.

1873 - School of Fine Arts and Academy of Learning active.

1879 - National Museum, Kraków established.

1885 - Park Krakowski established.

1890 - Population: 76,025.

1893 - Municipal Theatre opens.

1898 - Mickiewicz monument installed in Main Square.

20th century

1905 - Zielony Balonik literary cabaret begins in Jama Michalika on Floriańska Street.

1909 - Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra founded.

1910 - Population: 151,781.

1916 - Kino Sztuka (cinema) opens.

1917 - Formiści (art group) formed.

1918 - City becomes part of Poland.

1920 - Population: 176,463.

1929 - Kraków Zoo opens.

1930 - Wawel Castle museum established.

1931

Kraków Philharmonic hall opens.

Population: 219,300.

1933 - Grupa Krakowska (art group) formed.

1939

6 September: German forces enter city.

4 November: City becomes seat of Nazi German General Government of occupied Poland.

1941 - March: Kraków Ghetto of Jews established by occupying Germans.

1945

January: Russians take city; German occupation ends.

Historical Museum of Kraków established.

1946 - Krakow Polytechnic established.

1949

Gazeta Krakowska newspaper begins publication.

Development of Nowa Huta area begins.

1950

Bunkier Sztuki Contemporary Art Gallery founded.

Population: 347,500.

1951 - Polish Academy of Sciences' Division of Medicinal Plants established.

1954

Lenin Steelworks begins operating.

Opera Krakowska founded.

1955

Cricot 2 theatre group formed.

Population: 428,231.

1959 - Krzysztofory Gallery and Kino Mikro (cinema). open.

1961 - Kraków Film Festival begins.

1964

Balice Airport begins operating.

Karol Wojtyła becomes Catholic archbishop.

1965 – Population: 520,145.

1967 - Kino Kijów (cinema) opens.

1973 - Tyniec becomes part of Kraków.

1975 - Population: 684,600.

1978 - Kraków Old Town designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

1988 - Jewish Culture Festival in Kraków begins.

1990 - Czas Krakowski newspaper begins publication.

1993 - Institute for Strategic Studies established.[1]

1997 - Cracow Klezmer Band formed.

1998 - Andrzej Maria Gołaś becomes mayor.

1999 - City becomes part of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.

21st century

2000 - City designated a European Capital of Culture.

2002 - Jacek Majchrowski becomes mayor.

2006 - Galeria Krakowska shopping mall in business.

2008

Kraków Fast Tram begins operating.

International Festival of Independent Cinema Off Plus Camera begins.

2009

Kino Agrafka (cinema) opens.

Sister city relationship established with San Francisco, USA.

2010

Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków, Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory museum, and Bernatek Footbridge open.

Paderewski monument erected in Strzelecki Park, Kraków.

2012 - Population: 758,300.

2013 - Air pollution in Krakow reaches annual mean of 37 PM2.5 and 51 PM10, more than recommended.

2014 - May: Kraków referendum, 2014 held; Kraków bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics withdrawn.