Wawel Castle in Krakow, Cracow, Poland - A wonderful landmark and residence for the dragon!

Photo. The Wawel Castle in Krakowa, Poland, admired from inside. © Travel Explorations.

When I entered the Wawel Hill, I approached the entrance to the Cathedral. It is Poland’s national sanctuary with 1000-year-old tradition. This 14th century church houses great objects of art, from Gothic to Modern.

I passed the entrance to the Cathedral on the left side, and so I approached a wide square. There I found some restaurants and a seasonal open air cafe where I relaxed for a while  in the rain. When turning left, there is a main gate leading to the courtyard of the castle.

In the 14th century Wawel Hill was rebuilt by Jogaila and Jadwiga of Poland. They rose two towers connected to the existing structure, one tower is called the Hen’s Foot (Kurza Stopka) and the other, the Danish Tower.

Photo. The Wawel Hill consists of the Cathedral and the castle included some additional buildings. © Travel Explorations.

People have lived on Wawel Hill at the site of the Castle as early as fifty thousand years ago, in the Paleolithic Age.The settlement was apparently bustling with trade, assorted crafts and local farming. When more people began to settle down on the Wawel Hill and when trade grow very active, the rulers of Poland took up their residence at the Hill as well.

In the part of Wawel Hill facing the Vistula River, one can find the Dragon’s Den. According to the legend, it`s a Jurassic cave there, where the Wawel Dragon lived. He was a threat to the whole city but eventually he got defeated by a poor, but very smart, shoemaker.

Photo. The dragon in the Wawel Castle in Krakowa, Poland. © Travel Explorations.

I couldn`t see any sign or traces of a dragon in the site, but in the shops around in Krakow, Cracow, there are plenty of dragon souvenirs to memorise the legend. The dragon didn`t live long, but I am sure the well constructed and preserved buildings on Wawel Hill will have a bright future.

Stein Morten Lund, 24 June 2009

Additional information
Wawel Royal Castle – The National Art - is a national cultural institution, legally constituted, registered in the National Cultural Institutions Register at no. 21/92 and in the State Museum Register at no. 16/98.

Wawel Hill is accessible daily from 6:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m.
The arcaded courtyard closes half an hour before the gates of the hill.

Contact information:
Wawel Royal Castle
The National Art Collection
31-001 Kraków, Wawel 5

Switchboard:(+48 12) 422-51-55, 422-61-21
E-mail: zamek@wawel.edu.pl

Tourist Information: (+48 12) 422 51 55, ext. 219

Wawel Royal Castle`s website: www.wawel.krakow.pl/en