Wawel Castle (Wawel - Polish) is an iconic landmark on the European continent and a national shrine of Poland. The general public is most often known as the place of coronation and burial of monarchs and prominent persons of the state. In the catalogues for travellers it is listed as a visiting tourist card of the country. The beautiful complex mesmerises from the first moment, and it is also said that you can wander here for hours and still will not be satiated with all its curiosities.
Picturesque Krakow has long since lost its capital city status to Warsaw, but it hasn't lost its stunning royal grandeur. Locals still joke that all paths in the locality lead to the luxurious castle, and the architectural masterpiece itself with a magnificent garden immediately tramples a path into the hearts of visitors, to remain in them forever a piece of vivid memories of the journey.
Royal Apartments on the banks of the Vistula
From afar, tourists can admire the whole building, which stands on a hill at a height of 228 metres, from the Dębnice Bridge. But can this satisfy the hunger of an inquisitive explorer? It is better to go to the left bank of the Vistula River to get acquainted with the pleiad of buildings on the territory with an organised tour and a guide. There are too many rumours and beliefs surrounding the former royal residence, and you won't be able to make sense of it without an expert's explanations.
The location in Kraków is the Dzelnica Ι Stare Miasto district. However, the entire historical centre of the city has long been inscribed on the UNESCO heritage lists, wherever you go, there are mysteries and secrets of the past.
This is a great place to visit.
Related to the existence of the castle is the sad tradition of burying prominent personalities "within the walls" of the monarch's fiefdom:.
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In 2010, the President of modern Poland Lech Kaczynski and his faithful companion Maria, who died in a plane crash in Russia, were buried here.
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The Polish kings Stefan Batory, Jan Sobieski, Augustus the Strong, and Saint Queen Jadwiga found their final resting place in the Cathedral.
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Tourists and residents of Krakow come to this corner to once again pay homage to the memory of "artists of the word", their favourite poets Adam Mickiewicz and Juliusz Slovacki.
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Fans of the political careers of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Józef Poniatowski, Władysław Sikorski and Józef Piłsudski are carrying flowers and wreaths to the graves.
In September 1994, thanks to the highest decree of the President Lech Wałęsa, Wawel Castle received the title of the Monument to the History of the Polish State. Thanks to this decision, for tourists it now fulfils the role of a vast museum, where you can see how the authentic life of the monarchs looked like, and for the Poles themselves it remains a symbol of stability and devotion to the national history. The local exposition has much to be proud of, from the open-air architectural creations to the museum institution's collection.
There are 4 main components to the exposition of the diverse complex:
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royal chambers, where the monarchs once had sweet dreams;
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the throne room where the fate of the people and the whole country was decided;
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armoury with a magnificent collection of military artefacts;
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a treasury containing the precious stocks of the Polish kingdom.
Travellers from Russia feel a slight nostalgia in these apartments and call the castle the local Kremlin in the image of the familiar protective fortresses in their homeland. The colourful history of the residence, alas, cannot boast of the peaceful existence of the castle, silence and tranquillity of its inhabitants over the centuries.
Affairs of bygone days
The intricate architectural delights on the hill have long been a source of fascination for archaeologists. Excavations here have been carried out visibly invisible. Thorough laboratory analysis of metal and stone finds from the ancient times has made it possible to draw conclusions that on the local banks of the protective citadels tried to erect even the forefathers of the Slavs, in particular, the disparate tribes of the Vistula.
The initiator of the construction of more thorough barriers to enemies claiming these lands was the Krakow Prince Wenceslas IIΙΙ, and it happened in the 15th century. Casimir V, nicknamed the Great, picked up the baton of improving the complex in the 15th century. Wawel Castle was embodied in the best traditions of medieval Gothic, the crowning idea was the simultaneous connection of the castle walls and the settlement into a single ensemble.
For Europe of those times were characterised by frequent destructive fires, sometimes managing to turn massive buildings into a handful of gloomy ashes. Krakow's royal fiefdom was not spared from this fate. The first time a powerful fire covered the monarchs' possessions in 1499, and the rulers of Krakow, Alexander Jagiellon and Sigismund Ι the Old, spent a long and diligent time restoring the castle to its original beauty and solidity. The castle was seriously damaged in 1595 in the same crucible of merciless fire, and whether the patience of the kings burst, or whether there were other good political reasons, but in 1609 the royal family left these lands forever, moving away from sin to Warsaw.
Further events can be called somewhat paradoxical: officially Warsaw became the capital of the country only in 1795, the coronation of monarchs was traditionally held in Krakow in Wawel Castle, but it so happened that the unwitting traitor to the favourite royal house became the Polish King Sigismund ΙΙΙΙΙ Vasa. The decision he made to change his residence was later no longer violated by any ruler of Poland.
The tidbit of greatness left by the owners did not let foreign neighbours sleep well. Attempts to "rake under themselves" the royal stronghold in the form of abandoned halls, buildings, property attracted and tempted uninvited guests. The forlorn castle, abandoned by the rulers of Poland, was now and then "torn apart" by anyone who could not help trying to profit from its values.
The most invasive and destructive were the attacks and actions:
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robbers "from the high road" in 1665-1667;
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Swedish troops during the Great Northern War in 1702;
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Austrians, who made an interesting choice of the castle as a staging ground for military units in the XVΙΙΙΙ century, when the entire Polish state fell under the jurisdiction of Austria.
The last barbarism was the most devastating for Wawel Castle. The architectural complex fell into a dull, sad, grey decay. The personal belongings of the Kraków kings, household items, the general stature of the marvellous palace, embodied in the luxurious interiors, were swept away by random people without a chance for amnesty. Even after the national treasure was still bought by the Poles in 1905, it was not possible to restore the former beauty in its original form.
During the Second World War, the apartments of the Polish monarchs caught the fancy of the German viceroy in these lands as governor - General Hans Frank. For 5 years the Reichsleiter used the remains of the magnificent palace as his personal home. Now in the walls of the Wawel masterpiece ruled ruthless fascism, brutalising and doing evil in occupied Poland.
Once again Wawel Castle "flew a bright comet" in the world news in the twentieth century. The occasion was more than worthy. On all continents, the followers of Catholicism learnt that the new Pope under the name of John Paul II was Karol Wojtyla, who had previously worked in a religious position as the Bishop of Wawel.
The whole chronicle of events surrounding the royal choirs has faded into the past, but they can't be bothered. Attempts to restore the former luxury have been going on for over a hundred years, and pilgrims and tourists visit the castle in droves every day. They even sell tickets for excursion groups with different rights to see individual relics of the complex. And they do so not out of greed, but because it is almost impossible to visit the vast territory in one sitting. And if someone sets himself such a task, it will take at least half a day for a full-fledged walk through all the fragments of the exposition.
What to see at Wawel Castle
To some regret of pedantic tourists and fans of absolute order, you can't call Krakow's "Kremlin" a neat economy with perfect structure. Once on its territory, you feel a certain confusion, a hint of chaos and a complete lack of rigour. And yet it is possible to systematise the diverse attraction a little bit, for this purpose it is enough to make a separate emphasis on its most significant objects.
Sigismund's Chapel and Bell
The chapel is in the Renaissance style, although it is said that the builders did not set such a goal for themselves - somehow it just happened. As for the giant "bell ringer" weighing 365 kg, until the last years of the twentieth century there were no analogues of such a large bell in Poland. King Sigismund built it in 1520, spending a lot of money on it. It is easy to see the loud-sounding miracle, just visit the bell tower of the castle. In the past, not a single important event in the country and the surrounding area was without the ringing voice of the "giant", but then this honour was given to the bell only on the most exceptional occasions. In recent decades, residents and visitors to the city have heard the bell ringing on the following occasions:
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the death of Józef Piłsudski, Polish military leader, statesman of the highest rank, the first ruler of the state after the conquest of independence (1935);
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death of Bolesław Berut, president of the Polish People's Republic and leader of the Labour Party (1956);
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election of Polish-born clergyman Karol Wojtyla as Pope (1978);
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Poland's accession to the European Union (2004).
Tourists will definitely like the tale concerning the miraculousness of Sigismund's bell. There are persistent rumours that you can look at the bell only once and wish yourself either a big happy love for life, or wealth, jewellery and money. Only one of these wishes will be fulfilled, it is strictly forbidden to turn round and fix success with new looks.
The Cathedral of St Stanislaus and Wenceslas
The holy monastery is famous among the general public not only for the fact that Polish monarchs used to bring here the spoils of battle to the altar of victory (the exact name is Altar of the Fatherland), but also for the mammoth bones hanging above the entrance. Poles are deeply religious people, far from blasphemy and superstition, but they honour the bones of the prehistoric animal as a fetish, considering them a talisman of the city. In the walls of the temple rests the remains of Polish rulers, here used to behave quietly and sedately, paying tribute to their memory.
Sandomierz and Senator's Tower
The first of them is now a permanent shelter for all kinds of exhibitions, seminars and conferences. During the Austrian administration it served as a hospital for men with epaulettes. It was erected in 1853-1856 and has been perfectly preserved despite all kinds of collisions. Proudly holds its roof of bright ochre-coloured bricks and looks out at the world with white windows on a brown background of sturdy walls.
The second tall "lady" is so thoroughly built that she attracted the attention of the German commanders in the occupied possessions during World War II. The new "commanders" found within its walls both places for offices and cosy bedrooms for rest. Reliable shelter for the subordinates of General Hans Frank during the retreat was destined to be destroyed by explosions from everywhere laid mines, but the brilliant Soviet offensive helped to change the death sentence of the tower to pardon.
The royal castle framed by 4 guard towers
The names of the defenders are "Jordan Tower", "Danish Tower", "Chicken Leg", "Sigismund ΙV Vase Tower". Behind the building a magnificent garden is buzzing with dense foliage. The royal "chambers" themselves are in a perpetual state of restoration, but it is still a great pleasure to admire them.
Wawel Castle has long earned a reputation as a "must-see place in Poland and Krakow". Seasoned travellers who have followed this recommendation have never once complained of disappointment. The attraction is worthy, Poles can be deservedly proud of this masterpiece of architecture and fortitude.
