Father Bernatek Footbridge

The Father Bernatek Footbridge is a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Vistula that links the districts of Kazimierz and Podgorze, and people cross it both to move between the two neighbourhoods and to see the nine acrobat sculptures that appear to balance and dangle above the river. Completed in 2010 and named after the monk Father Laetus Bernatek, it has become one of Kraków's more photographed river crossings, partly for those figures and partly for the love padlocks couples fasten to its railings.

The feature most visitors come for is a set of nine acrobat figures by sculptor Jerzy Kedziora, suspended so that they seem to swing, balance and hang out over the Vistula. The bridge itself was designed by architect Andrzej Getter as a leaf-shaped twin walkway, which gives it a curved, split profile rather than a single straight span. Look up as you cross and the figures read differently depending on where you stand, and they catch the eye against the open sky over the river.

The footbridge was completed in 2010 and carries the name of Father Laetus Bernatek, a monk connected to the nearby hospital run by his order. It replaced the need for a longer detour between Kazimierz on the north bank and Podgorze on the south, opening a direct route for people on foot and on bikes. As a purpose-built pedestrian and cycle link rather than a road bridge, it belongs to a newer layer of Kraków's riverfront than the historic core.

Couples fasten padlocks to the railings here, which has earned the crossing a reputation as Kraków's bridge of love. The practice has built up over the years since the bridge opened, and the locks are part of what many people photograph alongside the acrobats. It suits anyone wandering between the two districts, families, cyclists and photographers, and it works equally well as a quick shortcut or an unhurried stop.

The footbridge sits naturally on a route between Kazimierz, the former Jewish quarter, and Podgorze, so it pairs well with time spent in either district rather than being a destination on its own. From the Kazimierz side you are within walking distance of the neighbourhood's squares and cafes, while the Podgorze side leads towards sites tied to the wartime history of the city. See our Kraków guide for how these areas connect and what to plan around the crossing.