There is a place in Krakow that is ideal for sitting in the shade of trees, listening to the singing of birds, distracting from the hustle and bustle – in a word, a little rest from the tourist bustle and sightseeing. These are the Planty – a park ring, a natural barrier that surrounds the Old Town (Stare Miasto). Until the beginning of the 19th century, high fortress walls stood here, but then they were demolished, and so that the place was not empty, a park was laid out. Work went on from 1822 to 1830, the locals called this initiative “Plantation”, hence the name of the park.
From the middle of the 19th to the middle of the 20th century, the park was cared for by the whole city, its condition was monitored by gardeners; many monuments have been erected here. But during the Second World War, it fell into disrepair: German soldiers used the fence for their needs, and after the end of hostilities, the authorities were in no hurry to reconstruct the Plantes. Only in 1989 in Krakow again began to restore the park.
Poles themselves like to spend time in Planty. In any weather, plantations are unique in their own way: young greenery in spring, life-giving coolness in summer, dense foliage perfectly protects against fine rain. Romantic walks are also good here: in autumn – on a carpet of yellow leaves, in winter – along snow-covered paths. The park ring stretches for as long as 4 kilometers, and the total area is 20 hectares.
