Market Square in Olkusz

The Market Square in Olkusz (say "OL-koosh") is the heart of Poland's old "Silver Town," a medieval silver and lead mining center about 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Kraków. Since a makeover completed in 2013, the square has been car-free, with fountains, benches and the outline of a Gothic town hall marked in the paving. The real highlight lies underneath: the multimedia Underground Olkusz exhibition in the cellars of the old town hall and the former royal mint, with Gothic St. Andrew's Basilica right next door.

A royal mining town

Olkusz received its town charter before 1299. The square was the center of a wealthy royal town that lived from mining and trade. A Gothic town hall from the 14th–15th centuries stood in the middle; according to the town, it housed a court, the town archive and a prison in its cellars. It was demolished in the first half of the 19th century.

From 1579 to 1601 a royal mint operated in the former governor's (starosta) building at Rynek 4. It struck coins marked with the letter "I" for Ilcussia, the town's Latin name, bearing portraits of Kings Stephen Báthory and Sigismund III Vasa.

Rediscovered beneath the pavement

Renovation of the square began in spring 2010 and finished in 2013. Archaeologists unexpectedly uncovered extensive, well-preserved 14th-century town hall cellars (about 294 m²), which the town decided to open to visitors instead of filling in. Today, the town hall's walls are traced on the square and a glass pavilion beside a rebuilt stone section leads down to the cellars. Around the square stand mostly 18th- and 19th-century town houses.

Underground Olkusz: what to see

The route has two parts. Beneath the town hall you'll find an animated medieval street scene, the old dungeon with torture instruments, a hologram of the merchant Stanisław Amenda and remains of a hypocaust heating system. Beneath the old governor's building, the mint section features a large model of the historic mines, mining machinery, replica lead and silver furnaces and a copy of the Miners' Silver Cross. Allow about 90 minutes.

Hours and tickets (as of October 2026): Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 am–5:00 pm, last entry 3:30 pm; closed Mondays. Adults 25 PLN, reduced 20 PLN, audio guide 10 PLN; an English-speaking guide costs 180 PLN. Groups of 10–40 must book ahead. The square itself is free and open 24/7.

How to get there

Olkusz is about 45 minutes by car from Kraków or Katowice (the A4 motorway passes about 20 km away), and buses run from both cities. The square is pedestrianized; Underground Olkusz recommends free parking at ul. Mickiewicza 18, also suitable for coaches. The square is flat and wheelchair-friendly.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, as a half-day trip from Kraków or Katowice: plan 2.5–3 hours for the square, the underground route and the basilica. Kids enjoy hunting for the 18 small bronze miner figures of the Olkusz Miners' Trail around the Old Town.