Ghetto Heroes Square – The “Square with Chairs” in Kraków
Once the central space of the Kraków Ghetto (1941–1943), Ghetto Heroes Square in the Podgórze district is today one of the most moving memorials to the victims of Nazi occupation. Known internationally as the “Square with Chairs” or “Empty Chairs Memorial”, it stands as a silent reminder of the thousands of Jews who were deported and murdered during the Holocaust.
The Kraków Ghetto: A Tragic Past
When the German authorities established the Kraków Ghetto in March 1941, this square (then Zgody Square) became the heart of a closed district surrounded by walls and barbed wire. It was here that people gathered for deportations, were separated from families, or waited under SS supervision for transport to Płaszów or Auschwitz. The square witnessed immense suffering — fear, confusion, and loss were part of its daily reality.
During the liquidation of the ghetto in March 1943, the site became a stage of horror. Many residents were shot in the streets; others were forced onto trucks and trains. When the ghetto ceased to exist, almost all traces of Jewish life in Podgórze were gone.
The Memorial of Empty Chairs
The current memorial, designed by architects Piotr Lewicki and Kazimierz Łatak, was unveiled in December 2005. It consists of 33 large steel chairs and 37 smaller ones, arranged across the entire square. The chairs symbolize absence — each representing those who once sat here, waited, and never returned.
The designers intentionally used simple, everyday objects to convey a powerful message: the everyday lives that were interrupted and destroyed. The empty chairs also recall the furniture and belongings left behind during the deportations, scattered across the square in March 1943.
The minimalist design invites visitors to pause, reflect, and imagine the lives of those who once filled this place with voices, trade, and community.
Over the years, the square has become a site of remembrance ceremonies and educational programs that bring together locals, students, and visitors from around the world. Its openness and lack of barriers allow each person to experience the space in their own way — through silence, memory, or dialogue. At night, the softly lit chairs create a haunting yet peaceful atmosphere, transforming the square into a living monument that connects past and present.
Today’s Square: A Place of Reflection
Ghetto Heroes Square has become a vital part of Kraków’s Memory Trail, connecting sites of suffering, courage, and remembrance. The minimalism of the installation contrasts sharply with the heavy history of the place, encouraging silent contemplation rather than spectacle.
The square is open at all times, freely accessible, and often included in walking tours exploring Jewish Kraków, the Podgórze district, or World War II history. The vast, empty space and simple memorial design invite visitors to stop for a moment of reflection and remembrance.
Practical Information
Location: Ghetto Heroes Square (Plac Bohaterów Getta), Podgórze District, Kraków
Admission: Free, open year-round, accessible at all hours.
Best time to visit: Early morning or evening, when the play of light enhances the atmosphere of the memorial and highlights the symbolic chairs.
Nearby attractions: Pharmacy Under the Eagle, Oskar Schindler’s Factory, Podgórze district, Father Bernatek Footbridge, Podgórski Square, and the preserved fragments of the Kraków Ghetto wall.