Come to Beautiful Cracow and take a trip in Time!
Cracow is the mesmerizing cultural capital of Poland and until the 19th century, was in fact the old Polish capital. Renowned for its extensive history, architecture and surrounding landscapes, located in south central Poland, untouched neither by German or Russian rule, it becomes clear just why we call it the cultural capital. Although having celebrated its 750 years as a city in 2005, the actual site dates back nearly 50,000 years upon which it was settled, the late Paleolithic Age.
Upon your very first entrance into the majestic city you will notice a stronghold atop a hillside just beside the flowing Vistula (or Wisla) river. This is the infamous Wawel castle which is just as old as the city itself. Here, famous kings, queens and noble figures reigned and are put to eternal rest in its' underground burial chambers. (see fig. 1)
fig 1-The Wawel Hill/castle and beside it the Visla river.
A tourist favourite is the old Zygmund bell placed high atop the castle at Zygmund tower which is open for tourists to climb its many winding stairs. The bell is overwhelmingly enormous and would ring during noble deaths, births, marriages and in case danger ever came to the castle.
The town market square too is an old favourite with it's many shops, vendors and churches, St. Mary's with it's stunning architecture and golden folding alter being the most notable place of worship.
Beyond the vast, elegant gardens of the Wawel castle, many will climb down beyond the castle walls and will notice beside the Wisla river an erect, iron sculpture of a vicious, scaly dragon. Designed and placed in 1972 by famous regional sculptor, Bronislaw Chromy, it emits flames from its mouth every two minutes at the delight of bystanders (fig 2). It has become somewhat of a national landmark and symbol for Poles and tourists alike. This creature represents a crucial link to ancient Polish history of peasantry and oral tradition. It has been placed in front of an ancient, great cave (or dragon's den), virtually untouched by the hand of man and existent since Poland's beginning since the 10th century. Only in the 19th century was it officially opened to the public. The cave was the home of the ruthless, infamous dragon in the legend of Krakus and the Dragon of Wawel Hill, a telling often unfamiliar to tourists but widely popular and known to Poland's ancient folk (and even modern) culture. It's first known mention/version appears in Wincenty Kadlubek's, Chronicles of the Kings and Princes of Poland, written in the 12th century.
A long time ago on Wawel hill, lived many settlers peacefully and one day a dragon was awakened from it's cave by curious youngsters. The small town suffered tremendously, chaos ensued when the dragon would wreak havoc, devour livestock, sheep and even virgin girls. Many a great warrior had failed and died in attempting to slay the beast and the King had finally had enough, promising his throne after his death and marriage to his daughter. One day, a peasant shoemaker named Krak, using his wit put together a solution. First stuffing a sheep with tar and sulfur, he then placed the bait at the foot of the dragon's den. The dragon being hungry and foolish accepted the bait and devoured it instantly with delight. Suddenly his insides begin to ache and burn and the brute fled to the nearby Wisla river to quench his thirst, but it would not be settled. He drank and drank until he was blown up to pieces and peace was finally restored to the small town. Krak was honored as a hero, married the princess and the town of Cracow was named after him and still remains so to this day. They lived happily ever after.
Although many variations exist of this legend, it gives us an idea of the monarch, political system and hierarchy of the time. The king is prevalent, the hero, Krak, in most versions and the setting remains the same hinting towards archaeological and historical evidence. Most Polish legends are influenced by religion and have a reference to their beloved Christian God. Other than the possible sacrificial lamb reference (also a Pagan ritual), the legend most certainly predates Christianity in Poland. After all, settlements were established on the landscape thousands of years earlier in the late Paleolithic age. This then stems into questioning whether the dragon did in fact exist or simply is a cherished myth? Regardless, it has provided a folk national treasure which many generations adore, including this one. It can be seen in today's annual dragon parade, the many souvenir stands in the streets of Cracow (fig. 3 and 4), the various decorations across the city, the copper dragon gargoyles atop the Wawel rooftops and even is representative of Poland's most famous, oldest Krakow film festival. Come visit the dragon and dive into Cracow's fantastic history!
fig.3
fig. 4
Upon your very first entrance into the majestic city you will notice a stronghold atop a hillside just beside the flowing Vistula (or Wisla) river. This is the infamous Wawel castle which is just as old as the city itself. Here, famous kings, queens and noble figures reigned and are put to eternal rest in its' underground burial chambers. (see fig. 1)
fig 1-The Wawel Hill/castle and beside it the Visla river.
A tourist favourite is the old Zygmund bell placed high atop the castle at Zygmund tower which is open for tourists to climb its many winding stairs. The bell is overwhelmingly enormous and would ring during noble deaths, births, marriages and in case danger ever came to the castle.
The town market square too is an old favourite with it's many shops, vendors and churches, St. Mary's with it's stunning architecture and golden folding alter being the most notable place of worship.
Beyond the vast, elegant gardens of the Wawel castle, many will climb down beyond the castle walls and will notice beside the Wisla river an erect, iron sculpture of a vicious, scaly dragon. Designed and placed in 1972 by famous regional sculptor, Bronislaw Chromy, it emits flames from its mouth every two minutes at the delight of bystanders (fig 2). It has become somewhat of a national landmark and symbol for Poles and tourists alike. This creature represents a crucial link to ancient Polish history of peasantry and oral tradition. It has been placed in front of an ancient, great cave (or dragon's den), virtually untouched by the hand of man and existent since Poland's beginning since the 10th century. Only in the 19th century was it officially opened to the public. The cave was the home of the ruthless, infamous dragon in the legend of Krakus and the Dragon of Wawel Hill, a telling often unfamiliar to tourists but widely popular and known to Poland's ancient folk (and even modern) culture. It's first known mention/version appears in Wincenty Kadlubek's, Chronicles of the Kings and Princes of Poland, written in the 12th century.
A long time ago on Wawel hill, lived many settlers peacefully and one day a dragon was awakened from it's cave by curious youngsters. The small town suffered tremendously, chaos ensued when the dragon would wreak havoc, devour livestock, sheep and even virgin girls. Many a great warrior had failed and died in attempting to slay the beast and the King had finally had enough, promising his throne after his death and marriage to his daughter. One day, a peasant shoemaker named Krak, using his wit put together a solution. First stuffing a sheep with tar and sulfur, he then placed the bait at the foot of the dragon's den. The dragon being hungry and foolish accepted the bait and devoured it instantly with delight. Suddenly his insides begin to ache and burn and the brute fled to the nearby Wisla river to quench his thirst, but it would not be settled. He drank and drank until he was blown up to pieces and peace was finally restored to the small town. Krak was honored as a hero, married the princess and the town of Cracow was named after him and still remains so to this day. They lived happily ever after.
Although many variations exist of this legend, it gives us an idea of the monarch, political system and hierarchy of the time. The king is prevalent, the hero, Krak, in most versions and the setting remains the same hinting towards archaeological and historical evidence. Most Polish legends are influenced by religion and have a reference to their beloved Christian God. Other than the possible sacrificial lamb reference (also a Pagan ritual), the legend most certainly predates Christianity in Poland. After all, settlements were established on the landscape thousands of years earlier in the late Paleolithic age. This then stems into questioning whether the dragon did in fact exist or simply is a cherished myth? Regardless, it has provided a folk national treasure which many generations adore, including this one. It can be seen in today's annual dragon parade, the many souvenir stands in the streets of Cracow (fig. 3 and 4), the various decorations across the city, the copper dragon gargoyles atop the Wawel rooftops and even is representative of Poland's most famous, oldest Krakow film festival. Come visit the dragon and dive into Cracow's fantastic history!
fig.3
fig. 4