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You are here : Home > Places to see in Poland > Wawel Castle & Cathedral >Main Square in Krakow >The Royal Route > Kazimierz > Jagiellonian University > Leonardo Da Vinci > Giant Burial Mounds > Wieliczka Salt Mines > Auschwitz-Birkenau |
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Wawel Castle & Cathedral in Krakow |
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Wawel Castle & Cathedral
The mythical aura that
surrounds Krakow can be traced back to Wawel....Poland's
own Camelot. Aerial view of Wawel castle & cathedral Both Wawel Castle and Cathedral date back to the 11th Century and since that time have suffered multiple sackings
and invasions from Poland's neighbours. Despite
being buffetted by the winds of war Wawel still
stands proud something which many Poles can identify
with. The Castle now houses several important
museums and exhibitions and to see everything it's
worth setting aside a few hours. Tickets for guided
tours can be purchased at the top of the cobbled
slope with only a set number of visitors being
allowed in each day.
Wawel's reputation as
a spiritual touchstone is further enhanced by the
Hindu faith. Hindu thinkers The seventh chakra is said to reside in the north west corner of Wawel's courtyard, centred in the chancel of St Gereon's Church. Wawel by the bank of the Vistula river
Krakow even has it's own
Dragon. Legend has it that the town derived it's
name from Prince Krak
Smok the Dragon outside Wawel castle The current building
that is Wawel cathedral is actually the 3rd church
on this site, erected between 1320 and 1364. The
interior is filled with sarcophogi, tombs and
spectacular chapels. Perhaps the Climb the Sigismund tower (accessed via the sacristy) to view the Sigismund Bell (otherwise known as Zygmunt). The 500 year old bell measures 2m high and these days it is very rarely sounded. It was most recently used as a death knell to announce the death of the late John Paul II. In May 1973, future pope Karol Wojtyła consented to a team of historians and conservationists to open King Kazimierz's tomb. Within weeks 16 people who had been present at the exhumation had dropped dead. A best selling book titled "Curses, Microbes and Scholars" drew comparisons to the curse of the pharoahs. At the back of the church is the entrance to St Leonard's Crypt which is the sole surviving remnant of the 12th Century Romanesque cathedral (the 2nd church erected on this site). Through here you can access the Royal Crypts where Polish royalty, military and cultural heroes are buried.
Tickets (together with the Zygmunt Bell & Royal Tombs): Normal = 12 zloty Opening Hours Mon-Sat 9am - 3pm Admission times and fees may be subject to change. For further inquiries and bookings ring the Tourist Service Office in Krakow on (+48 12) 422 5155 ext 291 |
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Standing on a fortified hill on the banks of the
Vistula, Wawel castle is an imposing sight. To many
Poles it serves as a romantic reminder of their
country's rich heritage and acts as the very symbol
of their national identity. Fables, myths and
legends have surrounded Wawel over the centuries and
as Krakow once used to be the capital of Poland then
many kings and queens were coronated or buried here.
believe that "chakra" is part of a powerful,
supernatural energy force that connects all living
things together. They claim that there are seven
points on Earth where this force is most
concentrated-Delhi, Delphi, Jerusalem, Mecca, Rome,
Velehrad and..........Krakow.
who
saved his people from a dragon that had been
terrifying local virgins and livestock. The Dragon's
Cave (Smocza Jama) is located at the Western
edge of Wawel hill next to the Thieves Tower.
Tickets can be purchased for the descent into the
bowels of Wawel hill. For those who are brave enough
to descend the 135 steps to the cave you will be
rewarded with a sighting of Smok the 
most famous of
these chapels is the Sigismund Chapel (Kaplica
Zygmuntowska), said to be the "most beautiful
Renaissance chapel north of the Alps".