Kraków/ Carmelite crypts and a medieval tower – discoveries made during the museum construction

Researchers discovered crypts containing Carmelite burials, fragments of a former tower, and a canal in the garden and inner courtyard of the Archaeological Museum in Krakow. The excavations are related to the ongoing reconstruction of the building.

The museum is located on the site of the former Church of St. Michael and the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in the 17th and 18th centuries, and later, until the mid-20th century, a prison. According to Mikołaj Orzechowski, Deputy Director of the Archaeological Museum, the ongoing major renovation and modernization of the building has uncovered fragments of the former buildings. Beneath the inner courtyard, known as the Execution Yard, researchers discovered relics of Carmelite crypts with several burials.

"When churches were built, crypts were placed in their basements, where people who had made contributions to the church or monastery, including founders and monks, were buried. We discovered several such burials during archaeological research. They have been secured and are being stored in a museum," Mikołaj Orzechowski told PAP.

Discoveries were also made near the wall along Poselska Street. In front of the museum entrance, archaeologists found the remains of the medieval Legacka Tower, which was part of the city's defensive structures. Near the garden entrance, fragments of a 19th-century drainage canal were unearthed.

Mikołaj Orzechowski reported that the discoveries influenced the museum's reconstruction plan. According to the current design, the entrance will lead, among other things, through newly discovered crypts, allowing visitors to view the results of archaeological work. A glass pavilion will be built next to the Legacka Tower.

The renovation of the Archaeological Museum in Krakow has been underway since March 2024. Its goal is to expand exhibition space and adapt the facility to the needs of people with disabilities. The project includes, among other things, the reconstruction of the existing entrance stairs and visitor flow in the building, the modernization of storage facilities, and the adaptation of former dungeons for practical purposes. The renovated building will house 12 new permanent exhibitions in attractive arrangements. The Renaissance garden and cloister will also be revitalized. Work is scheduled for completion in 2028. (PAP)

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