Wawel Royal Castle - Zamek Krlewski na Wawelu. Built in for Zygmunt I. Historic Centre of Krakw. UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed in 1978. The Schloss (Zamek Krlewski), on the broad Wawel hill at the S.W. end of the old town, was founded in the 14th cent, by Ladislaus Lokietek, and restored by Casimir the Great and Sigismund I (after 1500), but later conflagrations and other injuries have left only a number of large separate buildings, dating chiefly from the time of Sigismund I and his son Sigismund Augustus, and converted in 1846 into a barrack and 1900. DSC_0401p1
Monday morning would be a full day of sightseeing in and around Krakow, including Wawel Castle and the Old Town. Unlike other Polish cities, Krakows buildings and monuments were not destroyed during World War II. The Germans want to make it the administrative center for occupied Poland and a showcase German city. (It had been under Austrian occupation from 1795 to 1918.)
The coach dropped us off outside Planty Park. Planty is a greenbelt around the Old Town. It follows the trace of the medieval city walls. Walking though t to reach Wawel Castle reminded me very much of Łazienki Park in Warsaw. There were monuments and sculptures here, too. I like these peaceful green spaces. At the foot of the park, we came out onto Ulica Podzamcze, with the steps to the castle hill across the street.
The stairway to the castle rose gently up from the street. The wall was decorated bricks identifying individuals and organizations that have donated funds for the renovation and upkeep of the castle since 1916. All along the way the clock tower of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus and St. Wenceslas is overhead. At the top of the steps
is the Monument to Tadeusz Kościuszko Americans know Kościuszko as a hero of the American Revolution. But he also led an uprising in 1794 supporting Polish independence against Prussia and Russia. The Heraldic Gate (Brama Herbowa) is the entrance to the castle grounds.
The Cathedral dominates the outer courtyard. Formally known as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus and St. Wenceslas (Bazylika archikatedralna św. Stanisława i św. Wacława) Wawel Cathedral is the third on the site. Construction of the present cathedral began in the century. Its been sacked, rebuilt and redesigned a number of times over the centuries since then. The cathedral was the royal church and Polish monarchs were crowned here and buried here. It is a national cathedral as Polish notables and statesmen are also buried here. It is somewhat difficult to gain a perspective of the exterior of the church as a whole. The domed twin side chapels of Sigismund and Vasa stand out. Sigismund Chapel (Kaplica Zygmuntowska), notable for its golden dome, is the royal funerary chapel of the Polish Jagiellonian Dynasty of the 14th to 16th centuries. It is named for Sigismund I and Sigismund II, the last two Jagiellonian kings of
Sowy = Owls, sculpture by Bronislaw Chromy (1961) in Planty Park. Chromy is known for his owls. DSC_0406
Poland. Vasa Chapel (Kaplica Wazw) reminds one of the Swedish House of Vasa and the dynastic connection of the 16th and 17th centuries.
From the outer courtyard, the Bartholomew Berrecci Gate (Brama Bartłomieja Berrecciego) leads to the inner courtyard and the royal residences. The 16th century gatehouse is named for its builder. Inside is the open arcaded Renaissance courtyard, dating to It was designed by Italian architects, including Bartholomew Berrecci, noted above, but has been rebuilt and reworked many times.
Returning to the outer courtyard, we found a Polish color guard presenting the colors. I did not find out what the ceremony was for, but it was an appropriate touch.
The group was to walk from the castle back to the main square in Old Town. Along the way several notable sights were encountered. On the cobblestone street Kanonicza is the Deanery (Dom Dziekański).
