Learn the story behind the empty chairs in Ghetto Heroes Square in Kraków. A powerful WWII memorial and a place of remembrance. Discover its full meaning.
October 6, 2021
Ghetto Heroes Square Kraków – Meaning Behind the Chairs
One of the most poignant and touching places in Kraków is undoubtedly Ghetto Heroes Square. Located in the Podgórze district, the square commemorates the Jewish victims of WWII both through its name and the powerful chair installation found there. This article explores the history of the square, the symbolism of the chairs, and the tragic past that unfolded here.
The Kraków Ghetto: 1941–1943
Ghetto Heroes Square, known as Plac Zgody from 1930 to 1948, became the heart of the Jewish ghetto established by Nazi Germany in March 1941. Non-Jewish residents were displaced from Podgórze, and Jewish families from across Kraków were forced to move into a space covering just 20 hectares. Around 17,000 Jews were crammed into 320 buildings, often with 4 or 5 families in one flat.
Conditions were inhumane. Many slept on the floor, and all - including children, the elderly, and the sick - were forced to work. Hunger, disease, and brutal treatment were rampant. Those deemed unfit for work were killed or deported to extermination camps. The square was the site where thousands gathered during mass deportations to Belzec and later Auschwitz, waiting for hours for their final journey.
Deportation of Jews to the ghetto, today's ul. Lwowska (then ul. Salinarna), March 1943
Deportations from the Square
Before the war, Plac Zgody functioned as a local bus station. After the ghetto was established, it became the site for roll-calls and selections. A police station operated from the former bus terminal, and the ghetto wall stood nearby.
The square was used for deportations. Victims assembled in its western part, while looted property was stacked in the center. Executions occurred in the square and nearby courtyards. During the ghetto's liquidation in March 1943, many elderly, sick, and unemployed residents - along with children - were shot on-site.
Tadeusz Pankiewicz, the non-Jewish pharmacist who ran the Under the Eagle Pharmacy, was an eyewitness. Allowed to remain, he helped smuggle food and medicine and provided fake documents to Jews in hiding.
Explore Krakow in a fast, comfortable, and eco-friendly way with a Krakow City Tour by electric golf cart. This sightseeing tour is a great introduction to the city, especially for first-time visitors or travellers with limited time who want to see the highlights without long walks.
During the ride, you will explore key areas of Krakow, including the Old Town surroundings, Kazimierz – the historic Jewish district, and parts of Podgórze, where the famous Schindler’s Factory was located. A professionally prepared audio guide provides historical context and helps you understand the city’s past and character.
This electric car tour allows you to see more in less time while staying comfortable in all weather conditions, making it an easy and practical way to start exploring Krakow.
Duration: 1h - 2hAudio GuideTransportation included
Avoid the queues and visit the original Schindler’s Factory Museum – one of Krakow’s most important historical sites.With this fast-track ticket, you’ll explore the powerful permanent exhibition Krakow under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945, located in the real factory where Oskar Schindler worked.Discover original rooms, multimedia installations, and the story behind Schindler’s List – all at your own pace.
Step inside Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory in Krakow and explore the city’s history during World War II on a guided visit with a licensed guide. During the tour, you will learn about everyday life in occupied Krakow, the tragedy of the Krakow Ghetto, and the true story of a man who saved more than a thousand lives. The presence of a guide allows you to immerse yourself more deeply in the exhibition and better understand the broader historical context and the human stories behind the events.
Duration: 2hLive guideSkip-theLineTransportation included
In 1948, the city renamed Plac Zgody to Ghetto Heroes Square to honor the victims. For a time, it returned to its role as a transportation hub, but the memory of the wartime atrocities never faded.
The Chairs: A Symbolic Memorial
In 2005, the city commissioned a monument inspired by Tadeusz Pankiewicz’s memoir, The Kraków Ghetto Pharmacy. He wrote: “In Plac Zgody, an incalculable number of wardrobes, tables, sideboards and other furniture was rotting.” These words inspired an installation of oversized metal chairs, symbolizing what was left behind - and the absence of those who once sat there.
The memorial features 33 large chairs arranged in rows, reminiscent of the roll-calls. They face the former pharmacy. Three face Lwowska Street, where a fragment of the original ghetto wall survives. An additional 37 smaller chairs for sitting encircle the larger ones.
A paved line through the square marks the symbolic border of the ghetto. Two dates are displayed on the old bus station building: 1941 (ghetto establishment) and 1943 (ghetto liquidation).
Memory and Recognition
Each year, on 13 and 14 March, locals and visitors walk silently through the square, retracing the route taken by Jews during the ghetto’s liquidation.
In 2006, the memorial won the European Prize for Urban Public Space. In 2011, it earned the Gold Award for Urban Quality. In 2017, a local artist even crocheted lace coverings for some of the chairs, adding a soft human touch to the stark design - though only a few remain today.
Ghetto Heroes Square nowadays
Why Visit This Square?
Though it is a simple visual, the installation of empty chairs in Ghetto Heroes Square speaks volumes. Many people pass through without knowing its story. But now that you do, you will understand the depth of what this place represents. If you're visiting Kraków or planning a trip, a walk through Podgórze and a visit to this square will offer a profound encounter with history.
Explore Krakow in a fast, comfortable, and eco-friendly way with a Krakow City Tour by electric golf cart. This sightseeing tour is a great introduction to the city, especially for first-time visitors or travellers with limited time who want to see the highlights without long walks.
During the ride, you will explore key areas of Krakow, including the Old Town surroundings, Kazimierz – the historic Jewish district, and parts of Podgórze, where the famous Schindler’s Factory was located. A professionally prepared audio guide provides historical context and helps you understand the city’s past and character.
This electric car tour allows you to see more in less time while staying comfortable in all weather conditions, making it an easy and practical way to start exploring Krakow.
Duration: 1h - 2hAudio GuideTransportation included
Avoid the queues and visit the original Schindler’s Factory Museum – one of Krakow’s most important historical sites.With this fast-track ticket, you’ll explore the powerful permanent exhibition Krakow under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945, located in the real factory where Oskar Schindler worked.Discover original rooms, multimedia installations, and the story behind Schindler’s List – all at your own pace.
Step inside Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory in Krakow and explore the city’s history during World War II on a guided visit with a licensed guide. During the tour, you will learn about everyday life in occupied Krakow, the tragedy of the Krakow Ghetto, and the true story of a man who saved more than a thousand lives. The presence of a guide allows you to immerse yourself more deeply in the exhibition and better understand the broader historical context and the human stories behind the events.
Duration: 2hLive guideSkip-theLineTransportation included
What do the chairs in Ghetto Heroes Square represent? They symbolize absence and loss - each chair stands for a life taken and a home left behind when Kraków’s Jewish residents were deported or killed.
Where is Ghetto Heroes Square located? It is in the Podgórze district of Kraków, easily reachable by tram from the city center.
Who designed the chair installation? Architects Piotr Lewicki and Kazimierz Łatak created the monument, completed in 2005.
When was the Kraków ghetto liquidated? The final liquidation occurred in March 1943, with thousands deported to Auschwitz or murdered on site.
This square is more than just a public space – it is a quiet witness to unimaginable loss. Visiting it reminds us that history isn’t only written in books but also etched into the streets and places we pass by. Take a moment to pause, sit, and reflect.
Explore Krakow in a fast, comfortable, and eco-friendly way with a Krakow City Tour by electric golf cart. This sightseeing tour is a great introduction to the city, especially for first-time visitors or travellers with limited time who want to see the highlights without long walks.
During the ride, you will explore key areas of Krakow, including the Old Town surroundings, Kazimierz – the historic Jewish district, and parts of Podgórze, where the famous Schindler’s Factory was located. A professionally prepared audio guide provides historical context and helps you understand the city’s past and character.
This electric car tour allows you to see more in less time while staying comfortable in all weather conditions, making it an easy and practical way to start exploring Krakow.
Duration: 1h - 2hAudio GuideTransportation included
Walk in the footsteps of history on a professionally guided visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau – one of the most important memorial sites in the world. Departing from Krakow, this all-inclusive tour offers powerful insight, respectful reflection, and seamless logistics, so you can focus on what truly matters. Led by a licensed guide, you'll visit both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau and return with a deeper understanding of the past. Whether travelling solo or with others, this tour is trusted by thousands every year for its emotional impact and flawless organisation.
Duration: 7hLive guideSkip-theLineTransportation included
Avoid the queues and visit the original Schindler’s Factory Museum – one of Krakow’s most important historical sites.With this fast-track ticket, you’ll explore the powerful permanent exhibition Krakow under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945, located in the real factory where Oskar Schindler worked.Discover original rooms, multimedia installations, and the story behind Schindler’s List – all at your own pace.
Step inside Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory in Krakow and explore the city’s history during World War II on a guided visit with a licensed guide. During the tour, you will learn about everyday life in occupied Krakow, the tragedy of the Krakow Ghetto, and the true story of a man who saved more than a thousand lives. The presence of a guide allows you to immerse yourself more deeply in the exhibition and better understand the broader historical context and the human stories behind the events.
Duration: 2hLive guideSkip-theLineTransportation included
Duration: 1h - 2h
Audio Guide
Transportation included
Skip-theLine
