Magical Crucible

During the Golden Age, Kraków was a wealthy city teeming with life. It was the site of coronations, royal and noble weddings and great fairs drawing crowds of merchants and craftsmen from this part of Europe and providing a perfect opportunity for business, fun and entertainment. The fairs were filled by performers, magicians and jesters.

Theatre and comedia dell’arte will be the main themes of the 9th St John’s Fair – the festival filled with workshops, demonstrations, pageants and fragrant delicacies held at the Czerwieński Boulevard between 15 and 17 June. The Komedianty Troupe brings laughter galore with their rapid topsy-turvy performances. There will also be plenty of dance spectacles and displays.

Fans of magic and mystery will be able to see alchemists at work! And of course 16th-century Kraków was home to many illustrious sorcerers, astronomers and magicians, including none other than Johann Georg Faust who signed the infamous pact with the devil. The most famous visitors were Poles: Pan Twardowski who was asked by King Sigismund Augustus to summon up the ghost of his beloved wife Queen Barbara Radziwiłł, and Michał Sędziwój, known as Sendivogius Polonus, pioneer of modern chemistry. We’ll be able to meet both famous alchemists at the fair on Friday night.

On Saturday afternoon, a pageant of courtiers strolls from Wawel Castle to the Main Market Square to greet the newly arrived Stefan Batory and lead him to meet his future wife Anna Jagiellon. In the evening, the royal couple hosts a grand ball at the Czerwieński Boulevard. Finally, on Sunday we will join King Sigismund III Vasa and his entourage to celebrate the birthday of Prince Władysław. Ready for a royal feast?

(Justyna Skalska, "Karnet" magazine)