Wawel Royal Castle (Zamek Krolewski na Wawelu) Overview
Wawel Royal Castle was the seat of Polish royalty from the 11th century until the early 17th century when King Zygmunt III moved the Polish capital to Warsaw. Today, it functions as a museum, with some of the original Renaissance decoration, including Flemish tapestries, Italian furniture and various Italian and Dutch paintings, still existing. Among its many treasures are the Crown Treasury and Armoury, where visitors can see the Szczerbiec, a weapon once used to crown Polish monarchs. The Lost Wawel exhibition is centered around excavations of Wawel hill's oldest ruins, including the oldest church known to exist in Poland, the Rotunda of St Felix and St Adauctus, which dates from the 11th century. Visitors can also enter the Dragon's Den, a cave with karstic limestone features, where, according to Polish legend, a child-eating creature called the Wawel Dragon once lived.
Air: Krakow-Balice John Paul II International Airport. Rail: Train: Krakow Glowny Station. Road: Bus: Public services. Car: A77 (from Warsaw), then signs to the city center.
Contact Addresses
Zamek Krolewski, Wawel 5, 31-001 Krakow, Poland
Tel: (012) 422 5155
Website: www.cyf-kr.edu.pl/wawel
Location
Poland
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