The TRECIUS guest-house occupies the so-called piano nobile, or the halls of the first floor of a burgher house (a merchants town house, usually with a shop on the ground floor), previously used as living quarters by the owners. The guest-house was created by dividing two large halls into four rooms and incorporates former sleeping chamber as a fifth room, retaining its original architecture. Even though the origin of the building dates back to the XIII century, the first historical owner known by name was Krzysztof Trecjusz, who lived at the end of the XVI century, a secretary probably in the court of Stefan Batory. The name of the guest-house derives from his surname. The house was then significantly enlarged: a second floor was added, among other improvements. It may be that at this time the building received ornamental window and door frames made of stone (ultimately not preserved), fragments of which were found during renovation. The decor speaks of the wealth and social position of the owner. The house had several stone portals and the outer frames were adorned in decorative stone frames and divisions. After the Trecjusz's duration, the homestead became the property of the Kotlicki family, which turned the cellar into a winery. The Molenda family owned the premises for the longest span of time, a period of over a hundred years in the XVII and XVIII centuries. It became known as the Molenda House. The XIX century was an age of poverty, vandalism and change in Krakow. The city walls and town hall were destroyed and many low quality annexes were built in the courtyards of burgher houses. In the better-off second half of the XIX century, many buildings were renovated and modernised. Unfortunately, these attempts were carried out without taking their monumental character into consideration, which was commonly lost in the process. This era left its mark on the architecture of the old part of the city. Typical for the second half of the XIX century are high, rectangular windows, two-winged symmetrical doors and integrative rooms without corridors. Only 150 years ago, the Molenda House had a completely different inside and outward appearance, with a large gothic portal gateway, courtyard entrance from Floriańska Street, and an old gothic staircase, all of which have disappeared. In the 20-year period between World War I and II, building new elevations on old tenement facades became fashionable. This trend was also incorporated in the architecture of the Molenda House. It's contemporary appearance is a result of elevations built on in the 1930's. The previous constitution of the ground floor (with ornamental front portal and stone arch gateway) is represented only by a fragment of chain near the corner of the building, formerly used in securing the street by night and keeping order.

As this short history points out, the premises underwent changes not only in ownership, but also in itself incorporated various styles and trends through the ages. Nevertheless, several elements have persevered hundreds of years and can now be marveled at in the entrance hall, reception and sleeping chamber mentioned earlier. These include two stone columns and beautiful gothic hand-made brickwork, bearing the "paw print of the devil".

We invite you to spend one or more nights in the TRECIUS guest-house, where you can hear the Mariacki bugle call in the evening, and where the walls have their own history.