Wawel Castle

Wawel Castle

Attraction Introduction   During the Casimir period (1333–1370), it served as the royal palace. In 1595, Wawel Castle was damaged by fire. After that, King Sigismund III moved the capital of the kingdom to Warsaw. Following the Third Partition of Poland, Austrian invaders converted Wawel Castle into barracks, causing further damage to the royal palace. Inside the castle’s main cathedral, there are ancient sarcophagi of successive Polish kings and bishops of Kraków. The tombs of many notable historical figures in Poland are also located here, including world-renowned Polish poets Adam Mickiewicz and Juliusz Słowacki, national hero Tadeusz Kościuszko, and Józef Piłsudski. The largest bell in Poland, the Sigismund Bell, hangs in the cathedral’s bell tower. Climbing the bell tower offers panoramic views of Kraków. Highlights   Built on a limestone hill overlooking the Vistula River in Kraków, Wawel Castle is one of the oldest palaces in Poland. It now functions as a national museum. In addition to the ceremonial halls where the king held audiences, conducted state affairs, hosted banquets, and lived—which are open to the public—the East Wing of the palace exhibits oil paintings by masters from various eras, gold-and-silver-thread tapestries, antique furniture, ancient weapons, and royal attire and accessories. The palace also houses an Oriental artifacts exhibition room.

  Kraków, Poland