Esther's House in Krakow

Esterka’s House, located in Krakow’s Kazimierz district at 46 Krakowska Street, is a unique example of preserved residential architecture from the 14th century. Originally situated along the southern frontage of the former Kazimierz Market Square—part of which is now the modern Wolnica Square—the building is the result of merging two smaller structures and remains the only surviving residential house from that historic marketplace. Its oldest section, the Gothic cellars, dates back to the 14th century, and the building has undergone numerous renovations, the most recent in 1876. As a result of these changes, its current appearance was largely shaped during the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Inside, visitors can observe Gothic elements such as fragments of stonework from around 1430, as well as richly decorated 18th-century ceilings featuring polychrome paintings and ceiling rosettes. The house was once owned by Bartolomeo Berrecci, an architect active at the court of King Sigismund the Old, and later by his daughter Anna. The building is crowned with a classicist broken roof, characteristic of Krakow’s architecture. Culturally, the name of the building references the legend of Esterka, the Jewish beloved of King Casimir the Great, underscoring the significance of Jewish heritage in Krakow. Other sites bearing her name include Esterka Street, Esterka Mound, and a tenement house that stood until 1932. From 1978 to 1985, the building underwent comprehensive renovation and now houses a branch of the Ethnographic Museum, highlighting its role in preserving cultural heritage. Previously, in the 1950s and 1960s, it was home to the "Esterka" coffee bar, adding further historical and cultural layers to the site. The value of Esterka’s House lies in its centuries-old history and architecture, making it a monument to Krakow’s rich heritage.