Opens 12 December 2024

Krakow’s szopka – a shimmering winter exhibition

The nativity scenes from Krakow are fabulous, colorful and shimmering creations. They are made according to a unique craft tradition dating to the Middle Ages. The tradition is kept alive by an annual competition in December, when Krakow’s Main Market Square is filled with glittering cribs. 

Nowhere else in the world can you find nativity scenes like in the city of Krakow in southern Poland. They are distinguished by their splendor and creative joy.  

The design of the cribs is based on Krakow’s architecture. St. Mary’s Basilica, St. Florian’s gate and Wavel Castle are commonly used sources of inspiration. In the cribs, Krakow’s built heritage blend together, from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. The city’s domes, columns and towers mingle in endless combinations.  

The cribs contain the Child Jesus, Mary and Joseph, but also profane figures and events that are not explained. It is part of the tradition that the spectator must guess who the figures represent and what the scenes want to tell. When viewing a Krakow crib, use your imagination.  

This winter, the cribs from the Historical Museum in Krakow have moved into Kalmar Castle. A castle which once was the home of a Polish princess who became Queen of Sweden – Catherine Jagiellon. She came from Krakow. Her son Sigismund, who is buried in Krakow, also resided at Kalmar Castle. He was King of both Sweden and Poland as well as Grand Duke of Lithuania.  

Welcome to discover Krakow’s cribs, which in 2018 were added to the Unesco list of intangible cultural heritage. The cribs unite all the magic that is Krakow.