Jump in a taxi at the train station and the chances are you’ll drive past one of Kraków’s great unknown sites. Head directly east of the station, not far from rondo Mogilskie, and behold what is collectively known as the NOT building; a 22 storey structure that ranks as the tallest building in the city. Remarkably the 91 metre tower has never been occupied and has stood empty for over a quarter of a century. Originally designed in 1968 to serve as a congress hall and office complex work began in 1975, and it wasn’t long before local authorities ordered the architects to make the tower as tall as possible. Another eight floors were added, with TV studio, hotel and panoramic terrace all being part of the plan. Alas, Poland’s economic collapse was just around the corner and as the country nosedived into crisis work was abandoned in 1979 and never resumed.
Today the monstrosity stands fenced off from the public, a ghostly reminder of the false dawn promised by the communist leadership of the time. Over the years shoddy construction work has made the tower a crumbling death trap, so don’t even think of ducking under a hole in the fence and having a closer tour.
Known locally as Skeletor, this remarkable white elephant was recently acquired by GD&K Consulting for 30 million zloty, though so far they have kept their intentions top secret.