PODHÓRZE
Without seeing Podgórze, you can leave Krakow, but probably something would be lost. This "something" corresponds in a way to the atmosphere of Praga in Warsaw: the specific charm of forbidden places, the danger lurking after dark and a certain proletarian familiarity. The terrain of this southern district made a large part of the streets run upwards and resulted in the construction of houses – most of which come from the 19th century. – at different levels. As a result, Podgórze is varied, white accents of limestone rocks scattered capriciously on the slopes of Krzemionki add to its picturesqueness.
Four years after the painful year of the First Partition of Poland (1772) The settlement near Krakow, known to us as Podgórze, came under the rule of the Austrians, who decided to create a new city from it. 23 February 1784 r. by virtue of the act of Emperor Franz Joseph, it was granted the status of a free city and was endowed with considerable privileges. The beginnings were very modest: Podgórze was a miserable little town, sparsely populated and yet to be named, however, the favorable location on the navigable river dividing the Austrian partition from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and generous privileges effectively influenced its development. It could be, that by bestowing the young city with honors and favors, which the metropolis would not despise, The Austrians wanted to play on the nose of Krakow, proud of its tradition. Podgórze taken over by, was not there, the partitioners constituted a source of threat to the free, but defenseless Krakow. No wonder then, that the stronghold from under the Krakus Mound aroused reluctance and anxiety among Cracovians. It was even said, that the inhabitants of Krakow, who wanted to bathe in the Vistula, they were forced to swim with their passport in their teeth, in order to avoid arrest in the event of crossing the border in the middle of the river. Unfortunately, against the ambitious plans of the Central Committee of the Central Committee (for example, the role of the center of commercial intermediation between the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was being prepared for this right-bank district) Podgórze has never become a competition for Krakow – It was prevented by the fall of Poland and the Napoleonic wars. When in 1810 r. Podgórze counted almost 1800 inhabitants and approx 170 houses, it was attached to Krakow for the first time. During the Republic of Krakow, the situation returned to the state from before 1810 r. Eventually, Podgórze was connected to Kraków in 1915 r.
You reach Podgórze, following Krakowska Street from the city center or along the parallel Starowiślna Street towards the south (there are frequent trams from the city center #3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13). Behind Kazimierz and the bridge over the Vistula (Piłsudski Bridge) the district begins, which was once a separate city, and it was even supposed to become a competition for Krakow.
Podgórze for years 80. From the nineteenth century to World War II, it boasted a reputation as an industrial district. W 1889 r. They were even included among the leading industrial centers of Galicia. This state of affairs had an impact on the population structure of Podgórze, the vast majority of them were workers, craftsmen and railwaymen.
W 1897 r. Ignacy Daszyński, as a representative of the workers' Podgórze and the Krakow poviat, was elected a member of the State Council. Był to pierwszy wybór posła socjalistycznego. Quantity 22 000 votes he defeated his conservative opponent, endowed only 3000 votes.
Exit from the Piłsudski Bridge on ul. Legions can be associated with something like a triumphant return, because the route goes like this, that you can look down on the nearby tenement houses. Walking the same stretch on foot can also be nice, provided, that you have an exhaust gas filter in your lungs.
Two important streets divergent from the nearest intersection: on the right, that is, southwest, runs ul. Kalwaria, then passing into ul. Zakopiańska (the beginning of the famous Zakopianka), and to the left (that is to the southeast) leads ul. Limanowski, passing into ul. Wielicka. Just ul. Limanowskiego may be a good landmark when visiting Podgórze.