Founded in 1364 by King Casimir the Great, the Jagiellonian University is the oldest in Poland, the second-oldest in Central Europe (after Prague's Charles University), and one of the oldest in the world. Its 660-year history is inseparable from Krakow's identity.
The university's golden age came under Queen Jadwiga's patronage (she bequeathed her crown jewels to fund it in 1399) and the Jagiellonian dynasty. Nicolaus Copernicus studied here from 1491-1495, developing the astronomical knowledge that would reshape humanity's understanding of the universe. The Collegium Maius — the university's oldest building — preserves his instruments.
During the Partitions of Poland (1795-1918), when Poland was erased from the map, the university kept Polish language, culture, and identity alive under Austrian rule. In the 19th century, it became a center of the Mloda Polska (Young Poland) art movement.
The Nazi occupation targeted the university specifically — 184 professors were arrested on November 6, 1939 (Sonderaktion Krakau) and sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. The underground university continued teaching in secret throughout the war.
Today, the university has 40,000+ students and its campus spreads through the Old Town in a series of historic buildings. The presence of this massive student population keeps Krakow young, affordable, and culturally vibrant — the affordable restaurants, bookshops, and cafes exist largely because students need them.
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