The glorious ensemble that is Wawel, perched on top of the hill of the same name immediately south of the Old Town, is by far the most important collection of buildings in Poland. A symbol of national pride, hope, self-rule and not least of all fierce patriotism, Wawel offers a uniquely Polish version of the British Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey rolled into one. A gorgeous assortment of predominantly Romanesque, Renaissance and Gothic architecture dating from around the 14th century onwards, Wawel is the crown jewel of Kraków's architectural treasures and required visiting for Poles and foreigners alike.
Even for those who know or care little about the country’s past, Poland’s ancient seat of royalty contains a vast wealth of treasures inside its heavily fortified walls that can’t fail to inspire. Made up of the Castle and the Cathedral , of which the former contains most, but by no means all of the exhibitions, Wawel’s must-see highlights include the opulent State Rooms , a tantalising glimpse of Poland’s very own crown jewels inside the Crown Treasury , the historical interiors of the Cathedral , and - weather permitting - a leisurely stroll around all the castle castle courtyards and open spaces .
Visiting Wawel Castle
A full tour of Wawel is hard but rewarding work, and can take several days. The complex is free to enter, and there is no ticket necessary to explore the castle grounds. Take note, however, that due to the site's popularity, interior exhibits and tours have a timed ticket requirement . They sell out quickly, so in order to ensure yourself entry, we recommend you go online to bilety.wawel.krakow.pl and buy your tickets in advance; tickets are made available online 7 days before the date of entry. If online tickets are no longer available, try calling tel. 12 422 16 97 or emailing rezerwacja@wawelzamek.pl one day before your visit, or get to the Wawel Visitor Centre as early as possible for a chance at tickets for the same day.Wawel Castle
Wawel’s prominence as a centre of political power predates the building of the first Cathedral on the site in 1000AD. Evidence shows that Wawel Hill was being used as a fortified castle before Poland’s first ruler, Mieszko I (circa 962-992) chose Wawel as one of his official residences. The first Polish king crowned in Wawel Cathedral was the teenage Władysław the Short (1306-1333) on January 20, 1319, beginning a tradition that would see a further 35 royal rulers crowned there up until the 17th century. All of these rulers used the Castle as a residence, and all of them added their own architectural details to the building. The moving of the capital to Warsaw in 1596 and Poland’s subsequent decline and partitioning saw the Royal Castle fall into a state of disrepair. The occupying Austrians used it as a military hospital and even went so far as to demolish several buildings including a number of churches on the site. Restoration works began after WWI when Poland regained independence, only for Nazi Governor General Hans Frank to famously make it his headquarters during WWII. Today’s Castle complex is a beguiling muddle of styles including Medieval, Romanesque, Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque. The inner courtyard with its delightful colonnades is a true architectural masterpiece, and the treasures contained within do much to contribute to Kraków’s rightful status as a truly world-class city.
