Ghetto Heroes Square, or Plac Bohaterów Getta, is a memorial in Kraków’s Podgórze district, across the Vistula from Kazimierz. Its empty metal chairs recall the Jewish residents forced from their homes during the Second World War, and the belongings left behind. The square was also a place where families were separated and people were deported from the ghetto. Walk among the chairs, pause to read the information around the square, and consider joining a guided tour for more context. The Eagle Pharmacy and remains of the ghetto wall are nearby.
A square shaped by the ghetto
During the Second World War, the Nazis designated Podgórze as Kraków’s Jewish ghetto. This square was its largest open space and a central gathering place. It was also where people were assembled before deportation. Families were separated here, and many residents were forced from their homes and sent to camps.
Personal possessions left behind, including furniture and clothing, became part of the square’s history. The chairs now set across the paving recall those belongings and the lives that were disrupted or lost. The memorial’s spare design leaves the open space visible, giving visitors room to stop and reflect.
The chairs and nearby sites
Rows of empty metal chairs form the square’s memorial. Their simple shape draws attention to absence and to the people who were taken from the ghetto. The chairs are the main feature to look for; take time to read the information around the square for further historical context.
The Eagle Pharmacy, now a museum, stands nearby. Remains of the ghetto wall can also be seen in Podgórze; their form has been likened to gravestones. Together, these sites offer more context for the history of the district. A guided tour can help explain how the square and nearby landmarks relate to the ghetto.
Planning a respectful visit
The square is an open-air memorial in a public space, so you can visit without planning around an indoor admission schedule. It is wheelchair accessible at the entrance, and parking is listed as accessible. The site is also suitable for children, though its history concerns persecution and deportation.
Early morning or late afternoon can bring a quieter setting for reflection. If you are already visiting Podgórze, include the square with the Eagle Pharmacy and the surviving wall sections. Read the information on site, move through the memorial respectfully, and leave time to take in what the chairs represent.
Häufige Fragen
Where is Ghetto Heroes Square?
It is in Kraków’s Podgórze district, at Plac Bohaterów Getta. The square is across the Vistula from Kazimierz.
What do the chairs in the square represent?
The empty chairs recall the belongings and lives left behind when Jewish residents were forced from their homes during the Second World War.
What can you see near the square?
The Eagle Pharmacy, now a museum, and remains of the ghetto wall are nearby.
Is the square wheelchair accessible?
The entrance and parking are listed as wheelchair accessible.
