Florian Gate used to be the main entrance to Krakow.

Forming any settlement required protection from the invaders. The first settlements of Kraków used natural geographical conditions – such as hills, swamps or riverbeds. But still it hadn’t made difficult the access to the city from all sides until the year 1286 when prince Leszek Czarny decided to give permission for surrounding the whole city with the proper fortifications. At first these were moats and walls made of soil and timber but soon after also the stone ones. Around 1300 the parts of walls that survived till now, were built – that is the Florian gate and three towers (Pasamoników, Stolarska and Ciesielska). The fortifications were finished in 15th century – being 3 km long and having 47 towers and 8 main gates. In some parts the walls were almost 10 metres high and 2.4 metres wide. The moat was 22 metres wide and 8 metres deep. Apart from the proper city wall there was also a second one – about 2.5 metres high. The entrance to the city was possible through the barbicans – round fortifications connected with the gate through the covered passage-way called at that time “the neck”.

Barbican is a very unique remain of the city's fortifications. Its role was to protect the city from the invaders

Only one Barbican (nearby the Florian Gate) withstood the years that passed by. It is a circular fortress based on Arabic defensive architecture. It was built in the late 15th century and now is a masterpiece of Medieval military engineering. Its 3-metre thick walls have 130 embrasures. There is also a courtyard (which serves now as a place of concerts and exhibitions) and 7 turrets. This cylindrical brick structure was also moated.
Due to the decision of the Authorities of Kraków the city walls were pulled down between 1810 and 1814. Many people opposed these plans and therefore some parts of the Medieval fortifications were saved. The remains of the pulled-down walls became rubbish damp of the city. The idea of beautifying this place brought on the plan to form the park in the place of the former moat. This is how Planty – the city park – was formed. It surrounds now the old Town – as the city walls did before. Within time the area was embellished not only with plants but also with alleys and monuments.

In 19th century the remnants of the city walls were changed into the park – Planty. They surround the Old Town as the fortifications did before.

One can also admire the remains of the fortifications – among them Barbican (deprived of the passage connecting it with the gate), Florian Gate (with the white eagle – emblem of Poland – on the side facing the Barbican, and the carving depicting Saint Florian – the patron of the firemen – on the side facing Floriańska street), 3 towers and a short stripe of the walls. Inside part of the walls (in the area of the Florian gate) is most of the time the exhibition place for paintings for sale.

The inside part of the city walls (nearby the Florian Gate) became the place of exhibition and sale of paintings for local artists.