Wawel is one of the most beautiful monuments, not only of Cracow, but of all Poland. Huge king residence was made by Italian masters of architecture and matches gothic and renaissance styles. Situated on Wawel’s Hill King’s Castle belonged to famous kings of Poland. According to archeological surveys, the evidence of first settlement near Wawel is dated about 100 thousand years B.C.E. Situated on the cross of trade routes settlement was developing very fast and between VIII and IX century became one of centers of Wislans’ authorities. In the end of the first millennium C.E. Wawel started playing the role of political center and it was a location of first Polish kings. The oldest buildings stood up in the XI-th century, when Boleslaw Chrobry was the King.
Wawel became one of the biggest center of Christianity. There were appeared first Romanesque sacral buildings on Wawel Hill and between them, after setting up in 1000 year Cracow Diocese, stone cathedral. Wladyslaw Lokietek was the first crown head on the Wawel, he was buried on the Wawel too, that was started Cracow as necropolis of Polish kings. When the King Sigismund III moved to Warsaw in 1609 year, it was started difficult time for Wawel . Supervision of governors and occupation of Prussian army caused extermination of the Castle. Moving the capital to Warsaw didn’t change the role of Wawel Cathedral, which still was a place of coronations and buries of Polish Kings. During dismemberments, being in Austrian annexation, Wawel played a role of barracks and next was transformed into military hospital. In XX-th century there were started conservation works on Wawel. Renovation of the Hill was financed from public dues. The names of benefactors were written in bricks on the wall in the north entrance to the Castle. There was built Cresting Gate too and there was set the monument of Tadeusz Kosciuszko on the horse. After reaching of the independence, Polish governors recognizes Wawel Castle as representation house of Poland, used by Head of the Country and next by a President of Poland. In 1921 year, after a resolution of Seym Wawel became one of official residencies of President of Poland and still is. A community of buildings, gathered in King Castle on the Wawel is written in the I-st UNESCO list and is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Cracow.
Wawel Cathedral is a symbol of glory and a place of rests of Polish Kings and Poets. The first cathedral church on Wawel Hill was built after setting up Cracow Diocese in 1000 year. Cracow Cathedral was a place of celebration of Saint Stanislaw, Cracovian bishop, murdered in 1079 year, to whom resting place were coming pilgrims not only from Poland, but from different countries too. The cult of this Saint, connected with the idea of unification, divided on districts, Kingdom of Poland, started a tradition of coronation of Polish Kings in Wawel Cathedral.At the turn of the centuries the architecture and décor of the Cathedral were changing frequently. The main role in giving the cathedral actual look played, made between 1895 and 1910 year, radical renovation of the Cathedral and its equipment. During renovation it was trying to keep a history of successive art ages. There were introduced also into the cathedral new, actual at that moment, works of art, made by prominent artists.
The look of Cathedral inside is different from primary look, but the core of architecture kept its gothic osculation. The Cathedral is surrounded by three towers: Wicker Tower, called also The Tower of Silver Bells, Clock Tower and Sigismund Tower with the famous Sigismund Bell, which bells always during significant ceremonies. There are many chapels inside, i. a. Sigismund Chapel, The Chapel of Czartoryscy, The Chapel of Vases, which is an architectural copy of Sigismund Chapel. There are many crypts in basements: The Crypt of National Bards, where are resting Adam Mickiewicz, Julius Slowacki and Cyprian Kamil Norwid, The Crypt of Saint Leonardo, where Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Jozef Poniatowski and General Wladyslaw Sikorski were buried. There are resting Polish Kings, beginning from Sigismund Old to August II Strong, in seven crypts, connected by corridors. The Cathedral is one of the most willingly visited monuments of Cracow. This is very beautiful mosaic of different art styles and their mysterious semidarkness inside adds to The Cathedral magic and attraction
The Dragon Cave – located on the foot of the Wawel Hill is known from the legend of Wawel Dragon. The first version of the legend was described by Wincenty Kadlubek in his chronicle at the turn of XII-th and XIII-th century. The primary version of the legend were changed i. a. by Jan Dlugosz and the latest, the most popular version, created Joachim Brzezinski in XVI-th century. In connection to the legend, Bronislaw Chromy made a statue of the Dragon in 1972 year, which is located near the Dragon Cave.
In immemorial times the cave was a shelter for wanderers and beggars. In 1562 year, Sigismund II August decided to wall in the cave for security aspects, but it was used once again soon. In XII-th and XIII-th century near the cave was located a famous tavern.
All basements are 270 meters long, but the route open for tourists is only 81 meters long. The route begins in the Castle and is going to the cave by steps. For visitors are available three chambers. The longest is 25 meters long and 10 meters tall. The exit is located outside the Wawel, near the Wisla river bed.
