Over five hundred performers, ten mobile stages, live music, acrobatics, a theatrical spectacle, and mapping projected onto the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice). On September 13, residents and visitors will have a unique chance to embark on a journey tracing the thousand‑year history of the Kingdom of Poland.
It will be a historic day for Kraków. From the Florian Gate all the way to the Main Market Square, a procession of artists and historical reenactment groups will march, immersing audiences in royal times in a spectacular manner.
“A thousand years of the Polish Crown is a great responsibility, which is why Kraków approaches this milestone in our nation’s history with deep commitment. I invite all residents and visitors who come to Kraków on September 13 to participate in the parade and spectacle ‘Polish Chronicle 1025–2025.’ It will be a grand lesson in history, but also a spectacular show you simply must see—especially since it will take place in the City of Polish Kings” – emphasizes Aleksander Miszalski, Mayor of Kraków.
As the former seat of Polish monarchs, a treasury of art and remarkable architecture, Kraków will become the backdrop for the largest outdoor history lesson in Poland. “Polish Chronicle 1025–2025” is Kraków’s culmination of the Millennium celebrations of the Kingdom of Poland, commemorating the birth of a sovereign and independent state. It is also an expression of pride in our ancestors’ achievements and a presentation of the richness and diversity of Polish material and spiritual culture—in fields such as science, art, and technology. Over a millennium, Poland experienced triumphs and setbacks, weaving a rich historical mosaic—which will now come to life before hundreds of spectators. The production will present the history of the nation as a narrative where the past merges with the present. It will be a symbolic journey through the ages, reflecting the grandeur of bygone eras and the strength of national identity.
More than an educational event, it will be an outstanding theatrical‑multimedia spectacle, brought to life by local Kraków artists, including director and co‑scriptwriter Jerzy Zoń and artists from Teatr KTO. The event will consist of two parts: a parade moving from the Florian Gate along Floriańska Street, followed by a final spectacle with projection mapping in the Main Market Square.
“Polish Chronicle 1025–2025” will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Florian Gate on Saturday, September 13. The event is open to all residents and visitors of Kraków at that time.
“The Main Market Square—the heart of Kraków and the largest medieval square in all of Europe—will serve as the natural stage for this historical spectacle. We will focus on music, movement, and dance, recalling the most beautiful moments in our country’s history. I want the audience to understand that Poles can celebrate with smiles and joy. As one celebrates a splendid festivity—not in a pompous, sorrowful way with tears in their eyes. The millennium of Polish statehood is a wonderful opportunity to envision a better future” — Jerzy Zoń, director of Polish Chronicle 1025–2025.
Event Program
Parade
The performance begins with a grand, colorful, and dance‑filled parade in royal fashion. It will set off at 6:30 p.m., starting from the Florian Gate, and will consist of ten mobile stages, each illustrating achievements of different eras and vibrant impressions of the cultures and customs of those times. The audience will witness a living tableau: knights in shining armor and hussar wings, courtiers and townspeople moving to the rhythm of court music, peasants working the land, monks, and scholars. Approximately 600 performers—actors, extras, and reenactment groups—will travel along Floriańska Street, accompanied by stilt walkers, jugglers, and lively musicians. The beat of drums, the sound of flutes, and hussar fanfares will transport the audience back through time.
Final Spectacle & Mapping at the Main Market Square
Once the parade reaches the Main Market Square, the second part begins—the grand final spectacle. The central area in front of the Cloth Hall (between Sławkowska and Szewska Streets) will be transformed into a stage for a musical history lesson and a dramatization inspired by Jan Kochanowski’s The Dismissal of the Greek Envoys. Kraków’s architecture will serve as a dramatic set, illuminated by stunning multimedia effects. Projection mapping on the Cloth Hall will bring to life heroes of old chronicles, castles, battles, and millennia of culture and tradition, forming a backdrop for live theatrical scenes.
Production & Creators:
Script: Bronisław Maj, Jerzy Zoń
Text: Bronisław Maj
Music: Aleksander Brzeziński
Scenography: Joanna Jaśko‑Sroka
Costumes: Joanna Jaśko‑Sroka
Staging & Direction: Jerzy Zoń
Producer: Sebastian Godula
Organizers include the City of Kraków, the Małopolskie Voivodeship, and Teatr KTO. Partners: Wieliczka Salt Mine, Museum of the Kraków Saltworks in Wieliczka, Małopolska Tourist Organization, and ORLEN. Media patrons: TVP, TVP Info, TVP3, and Kraków.pl.
Collaborators: Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, and Silesian Opera in Bytom.
