Europa Nostra Heritage Hub for Central and Eastern Europe in Kraków is a regional centre of Europa Nostra, a pan-European federation of organisations involved in the protection, management, and promotion of cultural and natural heritage in forty European countries. It is run by one of the oldest non-governmental organisations in Poland, the Society of Friends of Kraków History and Heritage (Towarzystwo Miłośników Historii i Zabytków Krakowa), member of Europa Nostra since 1990. The hub operates as a think-tank, an observatory, and a laboratory.
As a platform, we strengthen the voice of NGOs from Central and Eastern Europe in shaping European heritage policy.
We facilitate cooperation between civic organisations and heritage institutions in the region.
We increase the visibility of activities supporting heritage in the region.
We deal with various aspects of cultural and natural heritage, both in and away from cities, through major projects and small initiatives.
Europa Nostra Heritage Hub for Central and Eastern Europe is operated by the Society of Friends of Kraków History and Heritage (Towarzystwo Miłośników Historii i Zabytków Krakowa).
The Society established in 1897 is one of the oldest non-governmental organisations in Poland. Focusing around its address at ul. Św. Jana 12 (previously at the headquarters of the National Archives at ul. Sienna 16) the most outstanding experts on the history of Krakow and, speaking today’s language, city activists, the Society over the decades has had a real impact on the appearance of Krakow on the one hand, and on the perception and knowledge of the city on the other. As a member of Europa Nostra, the Society is actively involved in shaping the European, civic model of thinking about heritage. The Society is the oldest Polish member of this international organisation, and the president, Professor Jacek Purchla is also its vice president.
The Society is located in a historic tenement house – kamienica Krauzowska – at ul. Św. Jana 12, in the heart of the World Heritage listed centre of Krakow. The house was buit in 14th century in Gothic style. Its name comes from Krzysztof Krauze, city councilor who owned it in the 17th century. His efforts resulted in placing the eagle in the coat of arms of Kraków. The founding member of the Society, Klemens Bąkowski, who died in 1938, bequeathed the tenement house to the Society in his will. The Society regained the rights to it after the war in 1947, and its seat has been located here since 1972 (previously it functioned in the building of the Archives of Historical Records of the City of Krakow at ul. Sienna 16).
Hub’s activities are conducted in two representative rooms on the first floor, which in 2022 regained their former splendour after major conservation works that lasted several years.
