Attraction
Wawel Royal Castle
The hilltop residence of Polish kings beside the Vistula, now a museum of state rooms, royal apartments, the Crown Treasury and seasonal gardens.
Collegium Maius
The oldest building of the Jagiellonian University, a late-Gothic college around an arcaded courtyard that now houses the university museum and its historic instruments.
At a glance
- Type
- University museum in a Gothic college
- Area
- Old Town, Kraków, Poland
- Official site
- maius.uj.edu.pl
Good to know
- Arcaded courtyard
- Musical clock
- Professors' Garden
- Café
- Guided tours
Why we recommend it
Collegium Maius is the oldest surviving building of the Jagiellonian University, founded as the Kraków Academy in the 14th century. King Władysław II Jagiełło bought the house for the academy using funds left by Queen Jadwiga, and in the late 15th century it was rebuilt in late-Gothic style around the arcaded courtyard that visitors see today. A well was added to the courtyard in 1517. Nicolaus Copernicus studied at the university in the 1490s, which gives the building a special place in the history of science. A careful restoration between 1949 and 1964 returned it to its appearance before 1840.
Today the college houses the Jagiellonian University Museum, created on the initiative of Professor Karol Estreicher. The interiors recreate the life of the medieval and Renaissance university, with lecture rooms, common halls, professors' quarters, a library and a treasury. The collection includes medieval scientific instruments, globes, paintings, furniture, coins and medals. Look out for the Jagiellonian globe, one of the treasures of the museum, and the rectors' Gothic maces in the treasury.
Even without a museum ticket, the courtyard is worth a detour. It is open daily, and the musical clock on its wall plays at 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00. The Professors' Garden behind the building is also open to visitors, and the courtyard café, U Pęcherza, is a quiet place for a drink between sights.
Visiting arrangements for the interiors are more complex than at most museums. There are set windows for unguided visits to the main exhibition, with free admission on Wednesday afternoons, and guided tours run at fixed times, including a weekday tour of the temporary exhibition. Times change, so check the museum website or call before you go. Staff speak several languages, including English, and discounts are available for children, families, seniors and students. Allow about an hour for the interior.
Collegium Maius stands on the corner of Jagiellońska and Świętej Anny streets, a few minutes west of the Main Market Square. It is surrounded by other university buildings, and St Anne's Church and the Planty park are close by, so it combines well with a walk through the academic quarter of the Old Town.
Collegium Maius FAQs
What is Collegium Maius?
The oldest building of the Jagiellonian University, now home to the university museum.
When does the courtyard clock play?
Daily at 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00.
Can I visit the courtyard for free?
Yes. The courtyard is open daily and does not require a museum ticket.
Did Copernicus study here?
Yes. Nicolaus Copernicus was a student at the university in the 1490s.
Is there a free admission day?
Unguided entry to the main exhibition is free on Wednesday afternoons.
Do I need a guide?
Not always. There are set times for unguided visits as well as scheduled guided tours, so check the museum's current timetable.
What are the highlights inside?
The Jagiellonian globe, medieval scientific instruments, the professors' rooms and the rectors' Gothic maces in the treasury.
Is there a café?
Yes. U Pęcherza café is in the courtyard.