Wawel Castle in Krakow

Wawel Hill in Krakow is an architectural complex surrounded by defensive walls, consisting of the Royal Castle, the Cathedral, the vicarage, and the servant quarters. Wawel is characterized by a mix of architectural styles, from Romanesque to Gothic, Renaissance to Baroque. In the 16th century, Wawel was the emblem of Poland, one of the greatest states in Europe, but with the fall of the Kingdom and the transfer of the capital to Warsaw (1596), it was abandoned, while still retaining a strong symbolic value.

According to legend, Wawel was built right above the cave where a terrible dragon, Smok Wawelski, lived, who slaughtered men and animals.

Some versions of the story also tell of young maidens sacrificed to prevent the dragon from devastating the city. The king Krak, exasperated, issued a decree stating that whoever killed the dragon would receive half of his kingdom and his daughter as a bride. Using a trick, a young shoemaker succeeded in the endeavor: he fed the monster a sheep stuffed with sulfur. To extinguish the fire that had blazed within him, the dragon was forced to drink nearly all of the Vistula River until he burst, freeing the city from his terrifying presence.

Today, at the entrance to the cave (accessible from the staircase of a tower attached to the city walls), there is a metal sculpture of the dragon with flames belching from its mouth every 5 minutes. The caves are 270 meters long, of which only 81 are accessible and divided into 3 chambers. The exit is on the bank of the Vistula.

The visit to this district of Krakow begins by walking up the path leading to the castle entrance where you can admire the equestrian statue of the Polish hero Kosciuszko placed on top of a bastion. After passing the Gate of Blazons (Brama Herbova), beyond which there is one of the castle ticket offices (the other is located behind the Tower of Thieves), and the Gate of the Vasa (Brama Wazòw), you arrive at the cathedral.

Many rooms of the Royal Palace are open to the public and can be visited. Along the way, you will encounter the public and private rooms of the sovereigns, the Royal Chapel, the Royal Treasury, a beautiful armory with weapons from the Middle Ages to the present day and several collections of Middle Eastern, Chinese, and Japanese artifacts, remnants of the contacts that the Polish Kingdom had over the centuries with other cultures.

The Cathedral is one of the most important places in Poland. Here, the kings were crowned, their funerals were celebrated, and royal dynasties and illustrious men were buried, such as the great poets Mickiewicz and Slowacki and national heroes including Kosciuszko. To learn more, visit our page Krakow Cathedral.

Opening hours: generally every day except from 9:30 AM to 5 PM; each area has variable hours. Ticket prices: Royal Apartments: adult $6.00, reduced $4.00 for students, university students, and seniors over 65. Free for ages 0-7. Armory: adult $4.00, reduced $2.50 for students, university students, and seniors over 65. Free for ages 0-7. Representative Rooms: adult $8.00, reduced $6.00 for students, university students, and seniors over 65. Free for ages 0-7. Crown Treasury: adult $6.00, reduced $4.00 for students, university students, and seniors over 65. Free for ages 0-7. St. Gereon Church: adult $2.50, reduced $1.25 for students, university students, and seniors over 65. Free for ages 0-7. Lost Wavel: adult $4.00, reduced $2.50 for students, university students, and seniors over 65. Free for ages 0-7. Wavel Recovered: adult $2.50, reduced $1.25 for students, university students, and seniors over 65. Free for ages 0-7. How to get there: the Castle is located on the hill of the Old Town. It can be reached from the center on foot in 10 minutes. By tram, stop Wawel, by bus, stop Jubilat.