Wawel Castle

Wawel Hill , Old Town (+48) 12 422 51 55 (ext.219) 22 Nov 2024

Wawel Castle, Kraków

Wawel Castle, Krakow

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 ancient churches, on the site. Restoration works began once Poland regained independence post-WWI, only for Nazi Governor General Hans Frank to famously make it his headquarters during the German occupation of 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. While almost all exhibits require a ticket, there is no charge to stroll and admire the castle grounds and courtyards.

Associated Venues

Castle Underground (Lost Wawel, Lapidarium)

Wawel 5

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This Wawel museum package includes exhibits on the ground floor and in the cellars of the former royal castle, including 'Lost Wawel' (Wawel Zaginiony') and the Lapidarium. Essentially an archaeological and architectural reserve, the smartly conceived

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Crown Treasury

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This permanent exhibit at Wawel is a conceptual homage to the historic institution that once existed in this very place. A manifest sign of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Poland, and later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, from the 14th century o

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Dragon's Den

Wawel Hill

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Formed about 25 million years ago, the spectacular limestone formation of Wawel Hill is not the solid piece of rock it appears to be, but rather filled with eerie caves and

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Royal Private Apartments

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The Royal Private Apartments are basically a continuation of the State Rooms tour of the castle's interiors, and equally stunning. Consisting of the royal bedchambers and

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State Rooms

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The main exhibition of Wawel Castle's interiors, the spectacular State Rooms are the rooms on the ground floor where the royals once entertained, held court, conducted sessions of the Senate, and hosted guests. Full of luscious oil paintings, intricat

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Wawel Cathedral

Wawel 3

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The scene of the crowning of almost every Polish king and queen throughout history, the current Wawel Cathedral is the third to be built on the site. The first cathedral was built of wood, probably around 1020, but certainly after the founding of the Bis

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Arcaded Renaissance Courtyard

Wawel 5

One of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Poland, Wawel’s iconic courtyard is emblematic of Poland’s ‘Golden Age.’ With the arrival of the Italian Renaissance in Poland in the early 16th century, solidified by King Sigismund I’s marriage

Art of the Orient

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Note that, though formerly a separate exhibit, these displays are now included as part of the 'Castle I' ticket package at Wawel. This exhibit in the western wing of the castle comprises decorative art from the Near

Czerwieński Boulevard

Wisła Boulevards beneath Wawel

Spanning the riverside from Dębnicki Bridge all the way to Grunwaldzki Bridge, this long stretch of the Wisła riverbanks beneath Wawel is known officially as 'Czerwieński Boulevard.' While th

Sandomierska Tower

Wawel 5

One of Wawel's two artillery towers, Sandomierska Tower was built around 1460 to defend the castle against attack from the south. A small chamber on the third floor would have served as either a guard's lodging or a prison for nobles, whereas common c

Tadeusz Kościuszko Monument

Wawel Hill

Greeting visitors above the northern entrance to Wawel Castle is the slightly larger-than-life bronze likeness of Tadeusz

The Wawel Dragon

The Wawel Dragon monument, Kraków; photo by Anna Lurne

Wawel Recovered

Wawel 5

Located in the vaulted Gothic cellars under Wawel, this modern interactive exhibit tells the story of Wawel Hill from the end of the 18th century to the end of the 20th century, focusing on the efforts to recover the Royal Castle from under Austrian occu

Wawel Visitor Centre

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While Wawel’s most of Wawel's courtyards and open-air spaces are free to enter, interior exhibits and tours have a timed ticket requirement to prevent overcrowding. They sell out quickly, so in order to ensure yourself entry, as well

Comments

01.05.2018
Agar

The tours are very interesting and the guides are very good. The souvenirs stores, at least some of them, have better prices than the stores closer to the Main Market. It is better to arrive the earliest which is 9 am so you have time to explore as much as possible as it is difficult to still get tickets after 2 pm. I was fortunate to be able to take the tour to the Open Gardens and Architecture which is a seasonal tour and very nice.

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Wawel Castle

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Associated Venues

Castle Underground (Lost Wawel, Lapidarium)

Crown Treasury

Dragon's Den

Royal Private Apartments

State Rooms

Wawel Cathedral

Arcaded Renaissance Courtyard

Art of the Orient

Czerwieński Boulevard

Sandomierska Tower

Tadeusz Kościuszko Monument

The Wawel Dragon

Wawel Recovered

Wawel Visitor Centre

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