Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow sightseeing and interesting facts

Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow is one of the best-known and most popular castles in Poland.

You’ve known us for a while now, and you know we love exploring castles. Year after year, more and more articles describing mighty fortresses appear on the pages of Our Trails. Whether they are the most beautiful Polish castles or stone fortresses in other corners of the world.

However, all the castles we’ve described pale in comparison to the one I have the pleasure of showing you today. After all, the Royal Castle in Krakow is a place every Pole knows from history lessons. It’s where crowned heads ruled, and it’s also where the last resting place was found in Wawel Cathedral.

The Royal Castle on Wawel Hill is not only the Crown Treasury, rich exhibitions, the Sigismund Bell, and the Wawel Dragon’s Den. Wawel is above all a place that shapes our national identity. The enormous influence on this has the history embedded in every stone on Wawel Hill, shaping successive generations for centuries.

We’ve been considering describing Wawel and its attractions for a long time. Finally, we dared to do it! Today, we have the pleasure of showing you all the attractions of the Royal Castle in Krakow. We’ll peek into the treasury, the armoury, the cathedral, and explore the aforementioned Wawel Dragon’s Den. In addition to that, there will be incredible facts you won’t find anywhere else!

Wawel Royal Castle, visiting the fortress in Krakow

Attention! If you want to visit the Royal Castle on Wawel Hill, remember to reserve at least a few hours. The area available to tourists is vast, and the number of exhibitions is astonishing. Therefore, it’s worth planning your visit well and starting early in the morning. This allows you to avoid the peak traffic, which grows larger by the hour. Peacefully explore the exhibitions.

So, if you would rather not spend long hours waiting in line for a ticket, consider buying your ticket online.

Wawel Royal Castle and the representative Royal Chambers

Our tour of Wawel begins with the Royal Representative Rooms. It was here that our kings entertained their distinguished guests. Today, we are the fortunate ones who can admire the artworks gathered here. However, it’s worth remembering that not everything worth seeing is right in front of our eyes. Occasionally, it’s worth looking up and admiring the intricately crafted vaults, but more on that shortly.

The first three rooms you’ll see are the Governor’s Flat. The artworks and furniture gathered here from Germany are not a coincidence. It was the representatives chosen among our western neighbours who proved to be the most eminent governors of the Royal Castle, and this decor is intended to commemorate them.

By the way, I encourage you to read about two Governors of King Sigismund the Old I—Jan Boner and Seweryn Boner because they were truly exceptional personalities.

Representative rooms on the second floor of Wawel Castle

Let’s return to the Royal Castle on Wawel Hill and continue exploring its nooks and crannies. On the second floor, you’ll find the representative halls, which in ancient times were meant to awe and overwhelm every guest fortunate enough to be invited here. Today, you also have the opportunity to see the halls where envoys were received, deliberations took place, lavish banquets were held, and spectacular theatrical performances were staged to the delight of the courtiers. I must admit that I would feel slightly overwhelmed myself, entering these rooms with the thought that I would soon pay homage to the king.

Each of the rooms has its name, which corresponds to its intended purpose.

• So here we have the Tournament Hall, also known as the Royal Council Chamber, where, as you can probably guess, the Royal Council gathered.
• Next, we have the Audience Chamber, where the Chamber of Envoys deliberated, and foreign delegations were received. And it’s in this room that you need to tilt your head up and look at the vault, where you’ll see the famous Wawel Heads. It’s a pity that out of 194 heads, only 30 have survived to our times. But such are the twists and turns of history.
• The next chamber you’ll visit while touring Wawel is the Senators’ Hall, also known as the Dance Hall. And there’s not much mystery here about what usually takes place in it because the names give it away, leaving little room for imagination. The only thing we can imagine in this place is how beautiful and grandiose the dances were held here. Interestingly, it was in this chamber that the first royal wedding of Zygmunt I and Bona Sforza took place. In the chronicle of the festivities, it was noted:

After the coronation, the next day there was a coronation banquet, during which the queen presented her gifts. Following the banquet, tradition dictated the “bedding ceremony” – the queen and the king were escorted by a small group of guests to the bridal chamber. The royal wedding was accompanied, of course, by dances (Italian, German, Polish, and Russian).

— Royal Chronicles

When you’re in the Senatorial Hall, remember to have a closer look at the historic tapestries. They personally delighted me, especially the depictions of exotic animals that look quite comical.

The Royal Representative Chambers are wonderful in a word! Although much of what we have the opportunity to see is a reconstruction, the whole still provides an image of the former might of the Polish monarchy. So, if you’re visiting Wawel, don’t bypass them, as you’ll miss out on a lot.

Note! Guided tours only, at specific times.

Crown Treasury and Armoury

I love treasures! In fact, I sometimes even find some myself, but what’s collected in the Crown Treasury at Wawel Castle surpasses human imagination! Shelves and display cases are bending under the weight of riches, and intricately crafted works of gold smithing delight the eye. If only I had a bit more free time, a few weeks perhaps, I would definitely spend it in the treasury rooms, carefully examining each of the artefacts.

Though, the Royal Treasury doesn’t have too many insignias of our monarchs. Unfortunately, many were irreparably destroyed by the Prussians, but even so, what has been recovered deserves special treatment and great respect.

At Wawel, you can see the only surviving attribute of the Kings of Poland to our times — the legendary sword Szczerbiec, which owes its name to the Kyiv expedition of 1018. It was then that Bolesław the Brave is said to have struck the Golden Gate with a sword that got notched from the blow.

Szczerbiec is not the only weapon you’ll see here. The number of historical white and black powder weapons amassed in the armoury is astonishing. It makes one wonder about how adept we are at harming ourselves and what ideas we’ve been able to realize in this regard. And this has been going on for many centuries.

If you would like to explore the armoury and treasury right now, you can take advantage of the virtual tour option on the official castle website.

Eastern art and Turkish tents

Another exhibition you can see at the Krakow Castle is the Exhibition of Eastern Art and Turkish Tents. You might ask, what’s so special about a tent, but when you see the Turkish masterpieces, you’ll immediately understand what it’s all about. Richly decorated with floral motifs, magically colourful tents seem to be straight out of the tales of One Thousand and One Nights.

Calling such a marvel the Palace of the Orient is no exaggeration. It’s worth knowing, while visiting this exhibition, that it’s the largest collection of its kind in Europe. Additionally, you’ll see oriental armour and weaponry here. Beautifully crafted carpets, on which the resting owners of mobile palaces would recline, and the largest collection of standards in Europe.

Cathedral, crypts, and Sigismund’s bell

To explore Wawel and not see the Wawel Cathedral is like being the Wawel Dragon and not breathing fire – it’s senseless. The history of the cathedral dates back to ancient times when Poland’s statehood was just emerging. The first building began to rise around the year 1000 after the decisions of the Congress of Gniezno. Today, there’s no trace left of it; as Krakow’s importance grew, so did the church, absorbing earlier structures.

What we can visit today is the result of successive construction works dating from 1501 when the tomb of Jan Olbracht was erected in the cathedral. And so, from century to century, each ruler contributed to the cathedral, which continued to grow until the beginning of the 20th century.

Unfortunately, we can’t show you pictures from inside the church or crypts; photography is prohibited here. However, if you search well, you can find photos on the Internet and in books that will give you a better idea of the cathedral’s interior.

Of course, the church itself and the beautiful chapels dedicated, among others, to former kings are not all that awaits you in this wonderful place. After all, beneath the church’s floor lie crypts where kings, national bards, and bishops are buried, and on the tower, you can see the bell commonly known as the Sigismund Bell.

Crypt of Saint Leonard at Wawel

In this crypt, you begin the tour of the tombs. This crypt was built between 1090 and 1117, and for such an old building, it is remarkably well-preserved. Interestingly, it is one of the best-preserved Romanesque interiors in Poland. Here lie buried, among others, King Jan III Sobieski and King Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki.

Stefan Batory’s crypt at Wawel

As you may have guessed, it is in this niche that Stefan Batory was buried. His body was placed in a lead sarcophagus, which has had to be restored several times. The latest restoration work was completed in 2016.

Crypt of the family of King Władysław IV Vasa

There is no mystery here as to who was buried in this crypt. Władysław IV Vasa rested here for eternal rest, along with his wife and four children.

Sigismund’s Crypt at Wawel

This tomb was intended for the family of Sigismund the Old. Sigismund II Augustus, Anna of Austria, Anna Jagiellon and her son Alexander were buried here. King Stanisław Leszczyński, Queen Barbara Zapolya, Princess Anna Maria Vasa and King August II the Strong were also buried in this crypt.

Crypt of Sigismund the Old

This crypt is located directly under the Sigismund Chapel. King Sigismund I the Old and his son Olbracht were buried in a stone sarcophagus.

The Vasa Crypt at Wawel

As the name suggests, it was dedicated to the royal family of the Vasa dynasty. So, alongside King Sigismund III Vasa, his wife Constance of Austria, Cardinal Jan Albert Vasa, Queen Ludwika Maria Gonzaga, King John II Casimir Vasa, and Prince John Sigismund Vasa were laid to rest. In addition to these dignitaries, an urn containing soil from Katyn, commemorating the victims of the Katyn massacre, was also placed in this crypt.

Crypt under the Tower of Silver Bells

Marshal Józef Piłsudski was buried here, and in accordance with his last will, he was accompanied by an urn with soil from his mother’s grave. Interestingly, the body rests on Wawel, but the marshal left his heart (literally) on Rossa in Vilnius.

Furthermore, here, in the vestibule of the crypt, the presidential couple who died in a plane crash in Smolensk in 2010 were buried.

Crypt of National Bards

This is the burial place of Adam Mickiewicz and Juliusz Słowacki. Both were considered worthy of burial at Wawel due to the spiritual leadership they carried on their shoulders during their captivity. Cyprian Kamil Norwid and Fryderyk Chopin are also commemorated in the crypt.

The Zygmunt Bell in Wawel

Zygmunt is undeniably the most famous bell in Poland, which only rings during the most significant state ceremonies. It is located on the Sigismund Tower, and of course, you can see it.

The Sigismund Bell was cast in 1520 on the commission of the reigning Sigismund I the Old, who most likely wanted to thank the Creator for the happy birth of his descendant in this way. Since then, the Sigismund Bell (because that’s the correct name) rings whenever necessary. It’s true that its heart broke in 2000, but after a successful “transplant,” it continues to toll.

As an interesting fact, it’s worth mentioning that until 1999, it was the largest bell in Poland.

Wawel Royal Castle and Royal Gardens

The Royal Gardens are one of the newest attractions of this wonderful castle. They were opened to the public in 2005. Thanks to the work of archaeologists, who meticulously examined the oldest records and conducted field surveys, it was possible to recreate the outline of the gardens as they existed in the 16th century.

Today, the gardens, especially during spring and summer, delight with colours and scents. Carefully selected flowering plants and herbs fill the air with essential oils that soothe the nerves and provide a breath of fresh air among the castle walls. It’s truly worth coming here to see the green-filled terraces where kings once strolled.

Wawel Royal Castle and the Wawel Dragon and Dragon’s Den

Almost everyone in Poland knows about the Wawel Dragon, who once terrorized the residents of Krakow. According to legend, he dwelled in a cave beneath Wawel Hill and set out from there on his hunts. It was there that a certain Shoemaker Dratewka came, who filled a ram’s carcass with sulphur and placed the trap under the beast’s threshold. Unaware of the trap, the dragon greedily devoured the meaty morsels.

The dragon burst and perished in agony, but the memory of this event remained. Today, queues of tourists line up in front of the cave, gaping at the fiery-mouthed statue of the monster.

To see the Wawel Dragon’s den, you must first purchase a ticket and descend into the cave via winding stairs that begin on the grounds of Wawel Castle in Krakow. The route isn’t very long, just 82 meters, but it’s still worth seeing. Especially when travelling with children like us. The latter enter the dragon’s lair with bated breath.

Wawel Royal Castle and a few words at the very end of the trip

That’s the end of the story about the Royal Castle in Krakow. What can I say to summarize this trip? It was spectacular! Although the tickets for our whole family were costly – you can check the price list – I don’t regret a single penny spent!

The Crown Treasury made a particularly strong impression on me and Ewa, filled to the brim with incredible artefacts. Surprisingly, the kids were fascinated by the tapestries in the Representative Rooms. Mainly because they had fun looking for quirky animals, but that still counts as good entertainment!

When you have a few free hours, don’t hesitate and come to Wawel! I think you’ll find something interesting here too.

Wawel Royal Castle price list, tickets, and other important information

Virtual tour of the Wawel Royal Castle

For those who cannot visit the castle in person, virtual tours have been prepared. All exhibitions, exhibitions and specially prepared games can be found on the castle’s website.

Wawel Royal Castle, interesting facts

Polish version