Wawel Cathedral

Wawel Cathedral

The full name of Wawel Cathedral is the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Stanislaus and Wenceslaus. It is a church located on Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland. It serves as Poland's national sanctuary and is also the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Kraków. For over 900 years of Polish history, Polish monarchs were crowned here.

On November 2, 1946, Pope John Paul II celebrated his first Mass as a priest in the cathedral's crypt, and later, in accordance with his wishes, he was buried there. Wawel Cathedral has been the main burial site of Polish monarchs since the 14th century. Additionally, in April 2010, Polish President Lech Kaczyński and his wife Maria Kaczyńska, who died in a plane crash, were also laid to rest in this cathedral.

The Sigismund Chapel (Kaplica Zygmuntowska) at the southern end of Wawel Cathedral is hailed as "the purest example of Renaissance architecture outside Italy." Built between 1517 and 1533, the square-shaped chapel features a golden dome and houses the tombs of King Sigismund I and King Sigismund II.

Wawel Cathedral

Must-visit reason: Poland's most important national sanctuary

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Poland[Poland]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Lesser Poland Voivodeship [Lesser Poland Voivodeship]

City where the attraction is located: Kraków [Kraków]