Wawel Castle
Royal castle and cathedral overlooking the Vistula in Kraków.
Ideal: Ideal for history, palace and castle architecture, and first-time visitors to Kraków.
Until the capital moved to Warsaw in 1596, Polish kings were crowned and buried here; the crypts beneath the cathedral hold rulers alongside national figures such as Kościuszko and Piłsudski. The Zygmunt bell in the tower dates from 1520, weighs more than 12 tons, and is rung only on major occasions by twelve people swinging it together. The cave beneath the hill is the setting of the legend in which a shepherd killed the dragon that ravaged the city with a sheep carcass stuffed with sulfur; a fire-breathing statue stands at the entrance.
Why go?
- To see one of the most important buildings in Polish royal history
- To take in Kraków and the Vistula River from above
- To explore castle, cathedral, and palace atmosphere in one district
Travel tip
The Wawel complex is large — don't just look from outside; leave time for the courtyards and the cathedral area.
