Wawel Castle – A Treasure Trove of Polish History and Culture

Wawel is a limestone hill in the center of Kraków, overlooking the Vistula River, with a complex of monumental monuments of exceptional historical and artistic value. This extraordinary sanctuary defines the identity of Poles, it is their national and cultural symbol. Wawel was the seat of Polish rulers, their necropolis and the place where the history of Poland was shaped.

Early history -the site was first inhabited in the Paleolithic period, over 100,000 years ago. In the 9th century, the Wawel hill became the center of the Vistulan tribe, one of the Slavic tribes that inhabited the region. In 965, the Piast dynasty, the first ruling dynasty of Poland, conquered the Vistulans and established Wawel as their capital.

The 11th and 12th centuries -in the 11th century, the Piasts built a number of religious and secular buildings on Wawel, including a cathedral, a rotunda, and a palace. The cathedral was consecrated in 1000, and it became an important center of Christianity in Poland. The rotunda, dedicated to Saints Felix and Adauctus, was built in the first half of the 11th century. The palace, built in the second half of the 12th century, was the residence of the Polish rulers.

The 13th and 14th centuries -in the 13th century, the Wawel hill was fortified with a stone wall. The wall divided the hill into two parts: the upper castle, which was the residence of the Polish rulers, and the lower castle, which was used for administrative and economic purposes. In the 14th century, the Gothic style became popular in Poland. The Wawel Cathedral was rebuilt in the Gothic style, and a Gothic chapel was built in the lower castle.

The 15th and 16th centuries -the 15th and 16th centuries were a golden age for Wawel. The Polish Renaissance reached its peak during this period, and Wawel was transformed into a magnificent Renaissance palace. In 1506, the Gothic palace was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. The new palace was designed by Italian architects, and it featured a beautiful courtyard with arcades. In 1519, the Sigismund Chapel was built in the Gothic style. The chapel is considered to be one of the most important works of Renaissance art in Poland.

The 17th and 18th centuries – the 17th and 18th centuries were a time of turmoil for Poland. The country was invaded by foreign powers several times, and Wawel was damaged in several wars. In 1655, the Swedish army invaded Poland and occupied Wawel. The Swedes caused extensive damage to the palace, including the destruction of the Renaissance interior. In 1702, Wawel was again damaged by fire. The fire destroyed the Renaissance interior of the chapel.

The 19th century – in the 19th century, Poland was partitioned by three foreign powers. Wawel was controlled by the Austrian Empire. The Austrians made several changes to Wawel, including the demolition of some of the buildings on the lower castle.

The 20th century – in the 20th century, Wawel was restored to Poland. The palace was restored to its former glory, and it became a museum. In 1945, the Soviet army liberated Poland from Nazi occupation. The Soviet army caused some damage to Wawel, but the damage was quickly repaired.

Nowadays Wawel is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Poland. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is considered to be one of the most important historical sites in Poland. It is one of those places that should be planned very well. To see everything that Wawel Hill has to offer, you need to devote at least a full day and spend quite a bit of money. It is recommended that you think in advance about what interests you the most and make some choices, especially if you have limited time or a tight budget.

Let’s start our tour of Wawel with the Cathedral. This is a relatively simple matter. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices located in the building opposite this magnificent church. You can enter the interior for free. The ticketed area includes the royal tombs in the crypts, the tower with the Sigismund Bell, some chapels, and the Cathedral Museum. Tickets cost 12 PLN (standard) and 7 PLN (reduced), and for tourist groups of more than 10 people, respectively one zloty less. It is best for you to visit the often unjustly overlooked Cathedral Museum (available as part of the cathedral ticket). Seeing a copy of the spear of St. Maurice, a gift from Emperor Otto himself from 1000 AD, is a real treat! You must be well aware that the interior of the cathedral is full of extraordinary relics of the past and outstanding works of art.

Visiting the Wawel Royal Castle will probably already require you to make some choices. Several long routes are available to tourists. Where can you buy tickets? The ticket offices are located at both gates leading to Wawel Hill – at the Herbowa Gate (the one with a rather steep approach, from the side of the exit of Kanonicza and Grodzkia) and in the Information and Promotion Center just behind the Bernardyńska Gate (from the side of the Bernardine Church). Remember that it is best to make a reservation in advance in the season, as the number of tickets is limited (for groups, reservation is mandatory in the season). We remind you that you can completely free of charge see the beautiful Renaissance arcaded courtyard.

You can explore the Wawel Royal Castle along several routes. Each is individually ticketed. You can see the “Representative Royal Chambers” (18/11 PLN in season) and the “Private Royal Apartments” (25/19 PLN in season). Each of these routes has its own charms. For a start, the Representative Chambers with the magnificent Ambassadorial Hall with the famous Wawel ceiling decorated with representations of human heads and a collection of tapestries. In the Private Apartments, you will see, among others, the Columned Hall and really stunning interiors (including a surprise – the pre-war apartment of President Mościcki with a bathroom!).

Visiting Wawel can also include a great exhibition of magnificent jewelry and weapons in the Crown Treasury and Armory (in the tourist season, a ticket costs 18/11 PLN). The most famous treasure of this exhibition is probably the sword of coronation of the Polish kings, the famous Szczerbiec. You can also learn about the earliest history of the Wawel Hill and the relics of its Romanesque buildings (specifically the Romanesque rotunda of Saints Felix and Adauctus) at the exhibition Wawel Zaginiony (10/7 PLN). Let’s not forget about the stunning exhibition “The Art of the East” depicting the fascination of the Sarmatian Commonwealth with the Orient – at the Castle you can admire the wonderful works of Turkish and Persian artistic crafts, including the spoils of Vienna (cost of visiting: 16/9 PLN).

If you are planning to visit Wawel in late spring, summer or early autumn (the tourist season lasts from the end of April to September, the exact dates of availability for individual seasonal exhibitions should be checked on the Wawel Castle website), the possibility of crossing the terrain routes opens up for you, namely: taking a guided tour of the Wawel buildings and gardens that are not accessible without a ticket (cost 18/10 PLN), climbing the Sandomir Gate with a magnificent view of the city (4 PLN) and going down to the Dragon’s Den (also 4 PLN).

Here are some tips for choosing a route to visit Wawel:

• Consider your interests. If you are interested in history, you may want to focus on the Representative Royal Chambers and the Private Royal Apartments. If you are interested in art, you may want to visit the Crown Treasury and Armory. And if you are interested in nature, you may want to go for a walk around the Wawel grounds and visit the Smocza Jama (Dragon’s Den).
• Think about your time constraints. If you only have a limited amount of time, you may want to focus on a single route. If you have more time, you can try to see as much as possible.
• Consider your budget. The cost of visiting Wawel varies depending on the route you choose.

There are two cafes on Wawel – one at the Center for Promotion and Information, the other right next to the entrance to the Wawel Zaginiony exhibition. You will find the Luggage Storage immediately behind the Bernardine Gate. The Center for Promotion and Information building itself, on the other hand, offers a Polish Post service point, an excellent bookstore where you can buy all Wawel publications and a newsstand.

Wawel Castle is a must-see for anyone visiting Kraków. It is a beautiful and historic site that offers visitors a glimpse into Poland’s rich past. A good plan, a prior reservation, and the mood of a discoverer are enough, and visiting Wawel will definitely be a fantastic experience!