Krakow | Wawel Castle (Zamek Wawelski)

Wawel Hill

The Wawel Castle (Zamek Wawelski) is situated atop a promontory (Wawel Hill) that overlooks the surrounding Stare Miasto district of Old Krakow. This karst limestone outcropping was formed some 25 million years ago, and is latticed with naturally-formed tunnels and caves that make it a perfect setting for a fortified zone.

The earliest archeological record shows that the hill was inhabited by humans as far back as the Middle Paleolithic era. It is believed that Wawel was utilized as a fortification by the Vistulan tribe during the the 8th and 9th century.

Zamek Wawelski - Wawel Royal Castle

The Chrobrowska Cathedral was the first major construction project at Wawel Hill began after the signing of the "Peace of Bautzen," between the Holy Roman Emperor Henry II and Poland's Duke Boleslaw I the Brave. Little remains of the original cathedral, or the Church of St. George, Church of St. Michael, 24 pillar ducal mansion, granary, Rotunda of the Blessed Virgin Mary, all of which were wooden structures that accompanied the stone Cathedral.

The Romanesque Hermanowska cathedral was built by Casimir I the Restorer (1038-1039) toward the end of the 11th century. The cathedral was partially destroyed in the early 1300s, but the Romanesque St. Leonard's Crypt still houses the remains of several Polish kings.

A third Gothic style cathedral, St. Margarita's chapel, and the Bathory Chapel were constructed on Wawel Hill in the mid 1300s by 'Wladyslaw I the Elbow-High,' being consecrated in 1364. Wladyslaw I was the first king to be buried within Wawel Cathedral, by his son Casimir III the Great (1333­1370).

Other Polish kinks buried within the royal tombs of St. Leonard's Crypt are Wladyslaw II Jogaila (1362-1434), and Casimir IV Jagiellon (1427-1492). The Swietokrzyska Chapel was built by Casimir IV Jagiellon.

Bell tower of Sigismund's Chapel seen through a Basilica Archway

The last line of the Lithuanian Jagiellon dynasty ended in 1536, at the beginning of the Renaissance period. The Wawel complex and its cathedrals were extensively remodeled by Sigismund I the Old (1467-1548). The reconstruction was supervised by Italian architects Bartolommeo Berrecci and Francesco Florentino, and later by Polish architect Benedykt from Sandomierz, who designed the Royal apartment houses, Crown Treasury and Armory.

The Wawel Castle's famous Sigismund's Chapel was constructed between 1519 and 1533, built by king Sigismund I, and designed by Bartolomeo Berrecci.

The Wawel Castle complex was again devastated by fire in 1595, and the damaged parts were rebuilt in the Baroque style by king Sigismund III Vasa, and Italian architect Giovanni Trevano.

During the 17th century, the Polish capital was moved to Warsaw. Wawel Castle fell into disrepair and neglect after a series of occupations by the Swedish and Prussian Armies. It was during this period that the fortification and defensive perimeter walls were erected.

In the early 18th century, Wawel came under Austrian rule during the Third Partition of Poland in 1795. Wawel Hill was converted to army barracks, and several buildings were destroyed or converted to military use.

By the beginning of the 20th century, Franz Joseph I of Austria returned Wawel to the Polish people, and reconstruction of the Castle began. During this period, many notable Pols where buried at Wawel, including Juliusz Slowacki, Jozef Pilsudski and Wladyslaw Sikorski.

During the Nazi occupation of Poland during WWII, Wawel Castle was the residence of German governor general Hans Frank.

Throughout the centuries, many myths and legends have attached themselves to Wawel Hill. One of the most enduring tails is of a fire-breathing dragon known as Smok Wawelski, or "The Dragon of Wawel Hill," who lived in the karst limestone caves of Wawel Hill, and was slain by a young peasant and shoemaker's apprentice named Krak.

Wawel Castle Website