Haunted and Scary Places in Krakow – What Do People Say?

We all know that every city has those spine-tingling spots you’d rather avoid when night falls. You can find many scary or haunted places in Kraków. Not the rough neighborhoods, but areas claimed by beings from another realm. Krakow, the former capital of Poland, is certainly not exempt from this. Actually Krakow is chock-full of places shrouded in eerie legends and tales that can give you the creeps.

One can’t help but recall the chilling quote above the crypts in Wawel Cathedral: 

Corpora dormiunt, vigilant animae, or in English – bodies sleep, ghosts are awake.

Some of these haunted places in Kraków no longer exist, but a simple mention can be enough to send shivers down your spine.

Scary Tales Of St. Mary’s Church

Here’s something they don’t teach you at school about St. Mary’s Church. This historic Gothic basilica with its unique towers of varying heights, housing the Veit Stoss altar inside, is a major tourist attraction.

Undoubtedly, the church itself is a sight to behold, drawing not only art and architecture enthusiasts, but also those who relish a good mystery. It’s wrapped in many legends about its creation, sudden deaths, and yes, even visits from beyond the grave.

A Dip Into Krakow’s Folklore

Two popular legends about St. Mary’s Church have ingrained themselves into Krakow’s folklore. Let’s talk about those aforementioned towers, first. The discrepancy in their heights has no concrete explanation, and I believe this mystery has made room for imaginative tales. One story tells of two builder brothers, each assigned to a tower.

I can tell you that jealousy gets the better of them in one version, while in another, it’s the devil messing with their minds. In both, one brother kills the other out of rivalry or confusion, and in his grief, takes his own life.

• By the way, if you like scary stories, I bet you will like this article too: Franz Tham – The Story of a Butcher of Krakow and His 32 Victims

These very towers also bore witness to a violent end of a bugle-caller. Struck by a Tatar arrow mid-performance, warning the city of an imminent invasion. Hence, the melody played till today abruptly ends midway. A similar theme can be found in the story behind Krakow’s Drowned Bell in Zwierzyniec.

A Peek Beyond The Grave

Does this mean that St. Mary’s Church is devoid of spectral visitors? Far from it. If you want a taste of the supernatural, you might just encounter wailing ghosts here. Being there, you need to know that the church houses several smaller chapels, one of which dedicated to St. Anthony holds a particular interest.

Known earlier as the chapel of St. Stanislaus and the Divine Court, it got its infamous nickname, the “Chapel of Villains”. I think it’s worth saying why. It was the last stop for convicts who spent the night here awaiting their verdict. By dawn, with priests in tow, they’d be led to their execution site, dangerously close to the sacred church…

Haunted Kosocicka Street near Kraków

Let me start by saying, there’s a former villa near Wieliczka that has garnered a reputation as the most haunted place in Krakow. This location has seen its share of unfortunate events. You see, it was probably built on a 19th-century cemetery for cholera victims.

A small chapel dedicated to the victims was intended to be built there but was mysteriously never completed. The unfinished chapel has sparked stories of curses or even the suicide of the owner. And yet another tale of… quarreling brothers.

Back in the 1970s, two brothers decided to build a house on their plot. They, however, fell out over a tale of a hidden 16th-century treasure. The dispute turned nasty, leading to one brother killing the other, and in remorse, took his own life. I know it sounds morbid, but local rumors suggest their spirits never left the place.

You might brush these stories off as tall tales, but it’s hard to deny that the house on Kosocicka Street had a frightful reputation. Its unfinished structure was an ominous sight on the landscape, attracting horror enthusiasts with its dark tales.

If you want a glimpse of the eerie, visitors used to report seeing disturbing wall inscriptions, small chapels, and scattered devotional items. Alas, this spectral haunt was completely demolished in 2016.

The Infamous Bishop of Wawel

Every so often, a chilling tale might revolve around a figure notorious in history. I am convinced you’ll find this one interesting. This is about a priest who is said to haunt Wawel after his death. I am referring to none other than Paweł from Przemanków, a Krakow bishop and former chancellor of Bolesław the Chaste.

According to less favorable accounts, he incited a rebellion against Bolesław. “The yearbook of Traski” pointedly brands him as the rebellion’s ringleader. Though some historians dispute this, painting a less severe picture, most researchers recognize his connection with the rebels. Not only that, rumors suggest he was behind the Lithuanian invasion of 1273, though chroniclers tread lightly around this information.

A Scandalous Life

Bishop Paweł was known for his decadence and licentious lifesytle, reportedly maintaining a harem funded by church resources. He even had a fraught relationship with Leszek the Black and Henry Probus, both of whom had detained him at one point. Following a resolution with Leszek, Paweł received substantial compensation.

However, the most scandalous bit about this clergyman revolves around his personal life. He’s accused of abducting a nun and adding her to his harem. Now, opinions on this are divided, and it’s not clear how much truth there is to the story or if it’s just a smear campaign against the bishop. But there’s no denying, these tales add a spicy twist to his story.

The Eerie Tale of the Haunted Road

Let me tell you about the District Police Headquarters in Mielec. They often get reports from drivers on the provincial road No. 875, near the village of Biesiadka. The story always revolves around an injured child found on the road.

A bloodied girl halts cars, begging for help, then mysteriously vanishes. The baffled drivers call the police and ambulance, thinking the child ran into the forest due to shock. But every search operation by the police ends in disappointment.

The road 875 connecting Mielec, Kolbuszowa, Sokołów Małopolski, and Leżajsk, gained notoriety when three men died in a car crash years ago. In Biesiadka, three metal crosses serve as grim reminders of the incident. Near these crosses, reports of the bloodied ghost girl circulate.

Sometimes she carries a rosary, sometimes she doesn’t. It’s even said she’s hopped into the back seats of cars, asking to be taken to her mother, yet no reflection of hers can be seen in the rearview mirror.

Wieliczka’s Spooky Villa

Imagine a brick, single-story building with a gable roof, dating back to the early 20th century. Inside, evidence of numerous fires can be seen. At night, you can hear the crying and high-pitched screams of children.

This house, like the one on Kosocicka Street, was attempted to be completed several times, each time without success, and was finally demolished. This villa on Dobczycka Street in Wieliczka had a grisly history known throughout the area.

Stories circulated about a man who lived here, performing illegal abortions and burning fetuses in the oven. The macabre tales surrounding this place could make anyone shiver. A report about this location was filmed by the Shadow Map channel. Are you ready to see it?

The Haunted House in Głogoczów

About twenty kilometers from central Krakow in the Myślenice district lies the small village of Głogoczów. This is where horrific events took place that even piqued the interest of the “Unbelievable” show.

The haunted house here is off the beaten path, barely accessible by road. Many years ago, a married couple lived in this house, living in dire conditions. The husband was abusive, assaulting his wife until her tragic death. The neighbors ignored her cries for help.

After his wife’s death, the husband sold the house and disappeared. Subsequent owners couldn’t stay long. One owner left two dogs overnight. Upon returning, he discovered a gruesome scene – the dogs were mutilated, their entrails cut out. Even now, locals avoid the house, especially at night. For when darkness falls, the eerie sounds of dogs howling and terrified pleas for help echo through the area.

The Mysteries of White Rock in Jerzmanowice

Let me start by saying that we touched on White Rock in Jerzmanowice in our UFO article. Though not a traditional haunted spot, the tales of extraterrestrial activities are nonetheless captivating. Picture this: It was a turbulent Thursday on the fourteenth of January 1993. The “Johannes Hevelius” ferry sank in the Baltic Sea, and there was a volcano eruption in Colombia.

Suddenly, a little before 7 p.m., an intense flash lit up Jerzmanowice. It was so bright it startled tourists at the Main Market Square in Krakow. Two glowing orbs appeared near the rock and moved at lightning speed. Next, limestone stones rained down, smashing windows, tearing up trees, and ripping off traction. Weirdly, every electric device exploded or caught fire, even if they were turned off. Even unlit lamps burst into flames.

Another odd occurrence was the fires of St. Elmo that appeared on metal objects’ edges. Scientists have not been able to fully explain these happenings, now known as the Jerzmanowice Incident. Even today, locals report seeing odd lights in the area.

• You may also like this article: Bloodthirsty Mystery of Karol Kot – The Vampire of Krakow

The Witkovice Forest Tales

A small forest on the outskirts of Krakow in the former village of Witkowice gained notoriety in 2001. This Krakow tale surpasses the “Blair Witch Project”. Locals had spoken of strange occurrences in the forest for years and had always kept a distance.

As the legend goes, a group of students decided to have a party in October 2001 to mark the academic year’s start. The event ended horrifically – all attendees vanishd. Odd happenings still occur in the forest.

A YouTube channel popped up in May 2015, titled “Dziwny Las Witkowice”, showcasing just one video. It’s believed the author found “strange materials” relating to past events. Unfortunately it is polish, but there are ENG subtitles, so make sure to turn them on:

Tales from people connected to the missing students are rampant. Here’s one such account:

Six months after they disappeared, we lost hope… So we went to this forest for the last time to drink a few beers for our missing friend. However, during this trip something very unexpected happened… At some point, we saw a reflection of light in the depths of the forest. We came closer and to our surprise we saw a ray of sunlight reflected in the camera lens. (…) We immediately developed a film from this camera. What we saw in the pictures frightened us because we could not understand what we saw there. In the pictures we saw the missing students, along with our friend.

References:

• https://twojahistoria.pl/2022/10/11/podroze-z-historia-nawiedzone-miejsca-w-krakowie/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3Ro70tC1L0&pp=ygUdbmF3aWVkem9uYSBza2FsYSBqZXJ6bWFub3dpY2U%3D