This was the name of the pillar usually standing in front of town halls in certain Polish cities. Various punishments were imposed on him, from the death penalty, scourging, standing up. The pillory was also called “Pilate”. In Krakow, you can find him on the Main Square opposite the “Pod Krzysztofory” Palace, where public lashes and stigmatization took place.
In 1625, Jędrzej Piotrkowczyk stood at Pręgierz for publishing three brochures defending the Krakow Academy against the attempts of the Jesuits. It was also from this place that undesirable people were driven out of the city, they were driven along Sławkowska Street through the city gate, along the route where the city gallows stood.
The last public execution took place in 1794 on priest Maciej Dziewoński, sentenced for delivering the Russians a plan of the Polish camp near Bosutów.
An interesting fact is that during the market clean-up in 1820, the town hall was demolished and the pręgierz was removed and was put up for auction. It was purchased by the Secretary of State of the Republic of Krakow, Wincenty Darowski – the owner of Mydlniki. He used it as a plinth for the Statue of the Virgin Mary, it stands next to the house no 200 in the eastern part of the town.
