Błonia Park

About

Błonia Park is a historic city park, meadow with an area of 48 hectares, located in the former quarter Półwsie Zwierzynieckie, of 700 meters west of the Old Town of Kraków, Poland. The history of the park began in 1162, when a wealthy nobleman Jaksa z Miechowa donated the land between Zwierzyniec and Łobzów to Norbertine Nuns. His intention was to receive a blessing prior to his pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

For the next two centuries the meadow belonged to nuns, who in 1366 exchanged it with the city's authorities for a manor at Floriańska Street. The meadow was used by peasants from neighboring villages to graze their cattle. Until the 19th century Błonia Park was largely neglected, and often flooded by the Rudawa river in the spring turning it into wetland with small islands, probably contributing to the spread of epidemics.

After draining the swamps, Błonia became perfectly suitable to host large gatherings. In 1809, when the city was incorporated into the Duchy of Warsaw, Błonia was a place of salute of the troops of Napoleon, organized by Prince Jozef Poniatowski and General Jan Henryk Dąbrowski. Today Błonia is a recreation area, frequently hosting large events like concerts...