Szara Kamienica

The Grey House, called Kamienica Szara in Polish, is the one of the chief attractions in Krakow. The house built between the 13th and 14th centuries has splendid interiors, Gothic vaults and Renaissance ceilings. The western facade was reshaped in the 17th century, centered on the massive Baroque portal, created by sculptors of the Castelli family. Residents have included Poland's first elected king, Henri de Valois and Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who had his quarters here. It was also the seat of the short-lived provisional government during the Krakow Uprising of 1846. The building is presently occupied by several shops and business establishments.