# Zwierzyniec, Kraków

Zwierzyniec is one of 18 districts of Kraków, located in the western part of the city. The name Zwierzyniec comes from a village of same name that is now a part of the district.
According to the Central Statistical Office data, the district's area is 28.73 square kilometres (11.09 square miles) and 20 454 people inhabit Zwierzyniec.

## History

The oldest preserved buildings in Zwierzyniec are the Church of the Holy Salvatore consecrated in 1148 and the Norbertine convent, probably consecrated in 1181. The history of Zwierzyniec is closely connected with the convent. In the 13th century, three Tartar invasions are documented, in 1241, 1259 and 1287, which plundered Zwierzyniec and burnt down the monastery. The monastery and Zwierzyniec were burnt down again in 1527 and in 1587, during the siege of Krakow by the army of Archduke Maximilian Habsburg, who wanted to occupy Krakow against his rival, Sigismund III Vasa. The latter's supporter, Jan Zamoyski, in order to prevent the Austrians from gaining a foothold in the suburbs, ordered the entire Zwierzyniec and Półwsie, among others, to be burnt down. The present appearance of the monastery dates from the time of its great reconstruction carried out in 1596-1626, when the convent was ruled by the princess Dorota Kątska. Zwierzyniec was incorporated into Krakow in 1910 and has since been transformed into a villa district.

## Subdivisions of Zwierzyniec

Zwierzyniec is divided into smaller subdivisions (osiedles). Here's a list of them.
* Bielany
* Chełm
* Olszanica
* Półwsie Zwierzynieckie
* Przegorzały
* Salwator
* Wola Justowska
* Zwierzyniec
* Zakamycze

## Landmarks

* Church of the Holy Salvatore - built in the XII century in the Romanesque style and rebuilt ca. 1600 in the Post-Gothic style
* Norbertine monastery - built in the XII century in the Romanesque style and rebuilt 1596–1626 in the Post-Gothic style
* Villa Decius - Renaissance villa built by Justus Ludwik Decjusz in the years 1530-1540 and rebuilt after 1620 and in the 19th century
* Camaldolese Hermit Monastery built between 1609 and 1630 in Baroque style
* Kościuszko Mound - artificial mound built 1820-1823 in honor of Tadeusz Kościuszko; between 1850 and 1854 Fort "Kosciuszko" was built around it, part of the Krakow fortress
* Piłsudski's Mound - artificial mound constructed between the years 1934 and 1937 in honor of Józef Piłsudski
* Salwator residential estate - a ‘garden city’ type villa estate along Świętej Bronisławy Street built between 1911 and 1955
* Przegorzały Castle - initially built 1928-1929 as a villa of Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz and later enlarged in the years 1941–1943 by the occupying Nazis as a "Schloss Wartenberg" - a residence for Otto Wächter and Luftwaffe officers; currently, the buildings house the Institute of European Studies of the Jagiellonian University and a restaurant
* Biprocemwap - Le Corbusier-style office building designed by Wojciech Buliński and Natalia Stańko built between 1959 and 1966
* Hotel ‘Cracovia’ - modernist hotel built between 1960-1965 according to a design by Witold Ceckiewicz; since 2016 owned by the National Museum in Krakow
* Kijów Cinema - designed by Witold Ceckiewicz, built 1961-1967 in modernist style
* Józef Piłsudski Cracovia Stadium - home ground of Cracovia and Puszcza Niepołomice built 1911–1912 and reconstructed 2009–2010
* Błonia - vast meadow, historically belonging to the Norbertine Nuns, now a recreation area, frequently hosting large events like concerts and exhibitions
* Kraków Zoo - established in 1929

## Gallery

* Church of the Holy Salvatore
* Norbertine monastery
* Villa Decius
* Camaldolese Hermit Monastery
* Kościuszko Mound with the Fort "Kościuszko"
* Piłsudski's Mound
* Salwator residential estate
* Przegorzały Castle
* Biprocemwap
* Hotel ‘Cracovia’
* Kijów Cinema
* Błonia