|
As you head south through the Old Town the streets begin to taper until you arrive at the foot of Wawel Hill, seat of the Royal Castle and Cathedral. Wawel lies on a small hill above the Vistula and it was here that the earliest settlements in the city began, some fifty thousand years ago.
Wawel is less a quarter than it is a rambling complex of historic buildings. Few ordinary citizens live here, and the most distinguished residents, the Kings of Poland, passed on many centuries ago. Yet the phantoms of these monarchs are ever-present, wandering about with furrowed brows, and shaking their fists at the great what-ifs of their country's history.
Architecturally, Wawel is something of a hodge-podge, with all kinds of shapes and styles jostling for attention. This might come as no surprise when you think that people have been living here since around 3000BC in the Neolithic period, and have lived and built on the hill successively ever since. However, whatever cohesion the Wawel lacks aesthetically it more than makes up for in terms of soul. For this is the spiritual home of the nation. And if one was to take England as a point of comparison, one might consider Wawel as a kind of Westminster Abbey and Camelot rolled into one. It is steeped in myth, yet with all the added poignancy of a nation that has had to endure more than its fair share of trials. And despite the apparent muddle of bits, Wawel has a charm that can exert a powerful hold. Its very lack of classical harmony becomes one of its endearing features. And besides, there are some real jewels here, among them the exquisite cathedral chapels, the renaissance courtyard and the State Rooms themselves. You can also climb up the old bell-tower or burrow down into the Dragon's Lair. All in all there is a wealth of things to do, not only for those dignified elderly folk, but for children too. | | | |
 | | "Heading to Krakow on Thursday... anyone know how to book an English Tour of the Royal Apartments at Wawel in advance please?? I've heard there's only one a day and books up in advance.
Ta!" | Iris
United Kingdom
Aug.24.2010
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Could you please work on your translation? It's horrible!" |
United Kingdom
May.26.2010
rates this page 3/5
|
| | "going for a break on boxing day cant wait staying in the centre of krakow" | karen hull
United Kingdom
Dec.06.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "We spent a good few hours pottering around the castle complex. Highlights for us were the courtyard (no so much the interiors), and the Holy Cross chapel" | Alan Rogers
United Kingdom
Jul.31.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Thev dragon's den is ace!!!!!!!!!" | Amy Jennings
United Kingdom
Jun.30.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I'm just come back from Cracow.
Very nice city and Wawel... it's a beautiful place almost like the Prague Castle. I'm sure i'll return to visit it again" | Alessandro Bargellini
Italy
Mar.20.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "It's AWESOME my mom was born in Krakow Poland!! GO THERE NOW ITS COOL" | Natalie Konopka
United States
Feb.24.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Great !! I was fortunate recently to be able to visit Wawel Castle with my two daughters and two grand children. A place which I visited frequently with my grandfather during 1945 just before leaving Poland. I was able to return after 63 years to show my foreign born children and grandchildren where I came from. Your website makes it easier for us all to review our experiences." | John Rozwadowski
New Zealand
Feb.15.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Wawel is the jewel in the crown of magnificent Krakow, can't wait for another visit there." | Andrew Brak
Australia
Feb.17.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Thank you for this page and all the others. I was first in Krakow in 1975 and haven't been there since 1977, but your reviews and descriptions make me want to return now. Thank You again." | Joseph Kozlowski Jr.
United States
Nov.09.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Beautiful castle, and the Cathedral is a "must". Don't excpect any good sevice or food at the restaurant, though. We waited 50 minutes for our food, and when it finally arriwed (after complaining two times) it was not what we ordered! The food was bad and expensive, not representative of Crakow at all! The souvenirs are not overpriced, and the Wawel heads are a marvel!" | Topfer
Norway
Jul.29.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "amazing place, very spirytual, inspiring" | margerita
United States
May.09.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I have been to Wawel Castle and Kracow. My wife and I consider this to be one of the most interesting, hospitable,and wonderful places we have ever been to. I would love to return to Krakow to explore and spend more time. " | Judd B. Fink
United States
Mar.06.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| |