Historical Lectures

FIRST LECTURE:
Time: 17:00
Town halls of Kraków — surviving and lost
Host: Danuta Gajewska

The town halls of Kraków are not limited to the most famous tower on the Main Market. Over the centuries, many urban centers functioned within today's Kraków, and each had its own town hall — the seat of authorities, courts and administration. Some of these buildings have survived to this day, others are known only from documents, plans and old engravings.

During the lecture we will examine the history of Kraków’s town halls — both preserved and lost — their architecture, functions and transformations against the backdrop of the city's development. The meeting will be an opportunity to discover lesser-known threads from the history of Kraków and former suburban urban centers.

SECOND LECTURE:
Time: 18:00
Not only Biskupin — the most interesting discoveries in Polish lands through the eyes of an archaeologist: Rus' warriors in Polish lands, Polish and German builders in Rus' — i.e. the early medieval labor market
Host: Ewa Kubica-Kabacińska

Archaeological sources provide many surprising pieces of information also about phenomena we tend to consider products of modern times. One of these is labor migration. Finds from several hundred years ago confirm that it was already present in the early Middle Ages.

Traces of such movements are uncovered, among others, during studies of cemeteries on the territories of Poland and excavations of early medieval churches and palaces in today's Ukraine and Russia. Archaeological materials and written sources indicate that specialized Rus' warriors served in the retinues of Piast rulers, and Polish and German builders erected stone temples and residences for Rus' princes.

During the lecture we will learn concrete examples of such stories — including the tale of a Rus' prince who, after a conflict with his clan, brought in masons from Poland to build his palace. The meeting will show how much about the old "labor market" we can read today from the ground and ancient chronicles.

• Tickets: In person, at the Strefa Sokolska office: 2 zł



• We also sell tickets online.

Welcome!