Seasonal front yard and back yard cafés in the spatial structure of Krakow (as exemplified by former 1st cadastre borough of Krakow City - Œródmieœcie)

The objective of this paper is defining changes of land use as consequence of the beginning of market economy rules implementation. These transformations involved, above all, a restoration of the land rent mechanism. An increase of the land prices, particularly in central city borough, contributed to its intensified use. To illustrate the above the catering and restaurant premises connected with the growth of touring as one of several functions underscored in the land use plan of Krakow’s economic functions have been taken as an example (besides, culture, science and specialist medical treatment). The research have been conducted in Œródmieœcie – former 1st cadastre borough of the city. It has confirmed the expansion of area occupied by catering and restaurant activity, especially during high season of tourist visits (spring-summer-autumn). At such times owners of catering and restaurant premises extensively used available space – arranging front/back yard cafés, particularly within the built-up area (mainly in back yards) as well as within streets area (pavements) and squares (primarily in The Main Market Square). The research was carried out during summer (July-September) 2013. It showed an almost threefold easonal increase of areas used as catering and restaurant premises.