Szeroka Street in Kazimierz, Poland was originally established in the 14th century as the Jewish quarter after a fire destroyed parts of Krakow. It has historically been an important center of Jewish life and contains several significant religious and cultural sites, including three synagogues, a cemetery, and a statue commemorating Holocaust witness Jan Karski. Today, Szeroka Street is a popular tourist destination with restaurants, shops, and galleries and serves as a meeting place for community events.

1. SZEROKA
STREET
by Hasan CANBULAT

2. History of
SZEROKA STREET
 In the beginning of the
14th century Krakow led
a rebellion against King
Ladislas the Short. So as
to avoid a similar fate,
the next king of Poland,
Casimir the Great,
founded a separate town.
And this was on a large
island on the Vistula
River in 1335.

3.  Eventually this was to take over as Poland’s
capital. And that’s how Kazimierz was created. As
a matter of fact the majority of the Jewish
Community resettled in this area in the 14th
century. Then a fire in June of 1494 saw the
destruction of a large area of the city of Krakow
between Mikolajska and Szewska streets.

4.  This was including part of
the Jewish quarter. King
John Olbracht gave those
Jews who had been burned
out new parcels of land in
what is now Szeroka Street
in Kazimierz. Incidentally
Kazimierz was at the time
still a separate city. The long
square that is Szeroka Street
was once the Market Square
of the Jewish Town.

7. Important buildings at the
Street

8. Synagoga Remu
Built in 1558, repeatedly transformed , including thoroughly by
Antoni Pluszynski in 1829. In 1958 – 1968 renovated following
damage in the Second World War. Renaissance, marred by
reconstructions. The Torah Ark (post – 1577) and stone money
box from the second half of the 16th century, and sculpted
door from the second half of the 18th century.

9. Synagoga Remu

10. Synagogue Poppera
 Foundation of Merchant
Wolf Popper from 1620,
adjacent to the defece
wall. Renovated and
expanded in 1813. 1827
and 1860; height
increased in 1898.
Renovated in 1904 and
1964, it has lost stylistic
features and sacred
character of the interior.
 This building is now uses
as a library.

11. Synagoga Poppera

12. Remuh Cemetery
Founded probably in 1551, closed at the
end of the 18th century, the cemetery is
the resting place of Moses Isserles,
known as Remuh and Poland’s largest
grouping of coffer and stela tombs from
16th – 18th centuries.

13. Jan Karski Statue
*Who Is It Jan Karski?
During World War II, Karski smuggled
himself into the Warsaw Ghetto and
Nazi concentration camps with the
express intent of witnessing and
recording the horror being
perpetrated against the Jews, in order
to report it to the West. In 1942 he
successfully escaped the European
continent to meet with the London-
based Polish government-in-exile, as
well as the Allied leaders, including UK
Foreign Secretary Antony Eden and
US President Franklin Roosevelt. One
of the first to present credible
evidence of the extermination of
European Jews by the Third Reich,
unfortunately Karski's report largely fell
on deaf ears.

14. The Old
Synagogue
 The Synagogue was built in 1407 or
1492; the date of building varies
with several sources.There was
further reconstruction work in 1904
and in 1913 The Old synagogue is a
rare, surviving example of a Polish
Fortress synagogue.The synagogue
was completely devastated and
ransacked by the Germans during
World War II.During the
occupation, the synagogue was
used as a magazine. In 1943, 30
Polish hostages were executed at its
wall.The Old Synagogue was
renovated from 1956 to 1959 and
currently operates as a museum.

15. The Old Synagogue

16. Today’s
 Presently Szeroka Street is touristic
place. It’s colorful buildings it’s a preety
sight place.
 There are a lot of restourants and
hostels.
 The Tourist stay at hostel on the Street
and they eat meal at restourants on the
Street.
 Also alongside this is antique stores and
galleries.
 Also Jewish Festival celebrate every
year on this Street. Every year many
people come here for this festival. And
They dance together on the Street.
 Free Tours for Kazimierz begin from this
place.

17. There are
 3 Synagogue
 1 Cemetery
 1 Statue
 17 Restourant
 8 Hostel and Hotel
 2 Gift Shop (Street Seller)
 3 Alcohol Store
 1 ATM
 2 Bookstore
 1 Police Station
On the Street

18. Famous Ariel restourant and A tour guide waiting for tourists

19. Tourist group in front of Synagogua Remu

20. A Street seller in Szeroka Street

21. Szeroka Street According to Project for Public
Spaces
 In evaluating thousands of public spaces around
the world, PPS has found that to be successful,
they generally share the following
four qualities: they are accessible; people are
engaged in activities there; the space
is comfortable and has a good image; and
finally, it is a sociable place: one where people
meet each other and take people when they
come to visit.

22. Diagram is about Great Public Place

23. ACCESS & LINKAGES
 Can you see the space from a distance? Is its interior visible from
the outside?
No, We can’t see Street from distance or outside. Because There are
many buildings araund the Street, and this buildings close the Street.
 Is there good connection between the space and the adjacent
buildings, or is it surrounded by blank walls? Do occupants of
adjacent buildings use the space?
Yes, It have good connection between adjacent buildings, it isn’t blank
between buildings.
 Can people easily walk to place? For example, do they have to dart
between moving cars to get to the place?
In fact no because restourant yards, and tour cars occupy to the
Street.
 Do sidewalks lead to and from the adjacent areas?
Yes, Sidewalks lead to adjacent areas.

24.  Does the space function for people with special needs?
Actually I could’t perceive with my observation.
 Do the roads and paths through the space take people where
they actually want to go?
Yes People can go wherever they want if they fallow roads and
paths.
 Can people use variety of transportation options(bus train,
car,bicycle, etc.) to reach the place?
Yes. The Street is near to significant bus and tram route. Also
People can come with bike or car.
 Are transit stops conveniently located next to destinations
such as libraries, post offices, park entrances etc. ?
Yes.

25. COMFORT & IMAGE
 Does the place make a good first impression?
Absolutely yes. The Street have glory impression.
 Are there more women than man?
Almost equal.
 Are there enough places to sit? Are seats conveniently located? Do people
have is a choice of places to sit, either in the sun or shade?
Probably If You will go to the Street, you can’t find bench. You just can find seat
inside restaurant garden. This seats generally are shade.
 Are spaces are clean and free of litter? Who is responsible for maintenance?
What do they do? When?
The Street is clean. Krakow Municipality is responsible from the Street. They
generally clean to the Street at night.

26.  Does the area feel safe? Is there a security presence? If so, what do these people
do? When are they on duty?
The Street is safe. There is a police station on the Street already. Police responsible
from the Street security.
 Are people taking pictures? Are there many photo opportunities available?
Yes Especially Tourists take many pictures.
 Do vehicles dominate pedestrian use of the space, or prevent them from easily
getting to the space?
Especially Car park occupy pedestrian area. However Vehicles don’t dominate at
pedestrian.

27. USES & ACTIVITIES
 Are people using the space or is it empty?
This space are visit by people almost all hours of the day. So It isn’t empty.
 Is it used by people of different ages?
Yes You can see all ages groups in here.
 Are people in groups?
Yes Especially It has tourist groups.
 How many different types of activities are occuring- people walking, eating,
playing baseball, chess, relaxing, reading?
You can see 2 or 3 different types of activities. For example eating, visiting and so
on.

28.  Which parts of the space are used and which are not?
The Street uses all of part.
 Are there choices of things to do?
Yes It has many things.
 Is there a management presence, or can you identify anyone
is in charge of the space?
Krakow Municipality responsible from area.

29. SOCIABILITY
 Is this a place where you would choose to meet your friends?
Are others meeting friends here or running into them?
Yes This place is good meetpoint. People meet their friends in
here.
 Are people in groups? Are they talking with one another?
Especially. It has tourist groups and they talk.
 Do people seem to know each other by face or by name?
Probably no because area is very crowded.

30.  Are people smiling? Do people make eye contact
with each other?
It have generally sincere people at areas.
 Do people use the place regularly and by choice?
Krakow’s people generally don’t choose to here
according to my observious.
 Does a mix of ages and ethnic groups that
generally reflect the community at large?
Yes You can see from many different groups
people in area.