Wawel Castle

Wawel Castle

Wawel Castle, an ancient symbol of Polish statehood, was the royal residence until 1609, when it was moved to Warsaw. The first, much smaller castle was built by King Bolesław in the 11th century, and in the 14th century under Casimir the Great it was transformed into a majestic Gothic castle. In 1499 the castle was destroyed by a severe fire and in its place King Zygmunt built an elegant Renaissance palace, which has survived almost unchanged.

General information

The Swedes, Prussians and Austrians occupied the castle and surrounding lands several times, and the last time the invaders destroyed the churches and built barracks in their place, leaving behind an unusually empty square on the hill and large austere buildings to the west of the castle. The Polish government and people did not reclaim the castle until 1918, after the end of World War I, when Poland became united again. The central part of the castle is closed to visitors. Tickets are sold in the passageway between the cathedral and the castle.

Prepare for crowds and large tour groups, especially in summer, and take at least half a day to explore Wawel. You can choose from several sections of this impressive complex, each of which requires a separate ticket valid for a specific time. Some parts of the castle have a limited number of tickets, so if you want to see them all, it’s best to arrive early.

.

Especially popular are the luxurious royal chambers (admission for adults/discounted 17/10zt, from November to March, free of charge; 09.30-17.00 Tue-Fri, 11.00-18.00 Sat and Sun from April to October, 10.00-16. 00 Tuesdays through Sundays from November through March) and the royal chambers (admission for adults/discounted 24/18zt. from November through March, free of charge; 09.30-17.00 Tues-Fri, 11.00-18.00 Sat and Sun from April through October, 09.30-16.00 Tues-Sat from November through March). The latter are only allowed to enter if accompanied by a guide. It may happen that you have to join a Polish-speaking tour. If you would like to book a tour in Russian or any other language, please contact the tour desk of the complex (Tel: 12 422 1697).

The Wawel Cathedral (www.katedra-wawelska.pl; 09.00-17.00 Mon-Sat), built in the 14th century, was for four centuries the place of coronation and burial of Polish monarchs. The cathedral’s small museum (admission for adults/discounted admission 12/7zt; 10.00-15.00 Tues-Fri) displays church artifacts. The museum ticket covers the royal tombs, including the tomb of King Casimir the Great, and the bell tower of Sigismund’s Chapel (1539), its bell being the largest in Poland (11 tons).

.

Among other exhibitions and museums it is worth mentioning the Museum of Oriental Art (admission for adults/discounted 8/5zt; 09.30-17.00 Tue-Fri, 11.00-18.00 Sat and Sun from April to October, 09.30-16. 00 Sat-Sat from November to March), Royal Treasury and Armory (admission for adults/discounted 15/8zt, Mon – free; 09.30-17.00 Tue-Fri, 11.00-18.00 Sat and Sun from April to October, 09.30-16. 00 Sat to Sat from November to March), exhibition “Lost Wawel” (admission for adults/discounted 8/5zt, from April to October Mon – free, from November to March – Sun; 09.30-13.00 Mon, 09.30-17.00 Tue to Fri, 11.00-18.00 Sat and Sun from April to October, 09. 30. 30-16.00 Tue-Sat and 10.00-16.00 Sun from November to March), whose exposition consists of curious archaeological finds, and finally, the fabulous dragon cave (entrance 3zt; 10.00-17.00 from April to October). It’s the last place you should head to, as the exit leads to the riverbank outside the castle.

Separate tickets are required to visit the cathedral and the castle. You can sign up for an organized tour at the main ticket office behind the cathedral (there are two other ticket offices, including one in the passage to the top of the hill). Opening hours vary between Wawel museums, so it’s best to check in advance. The latest information can be found on the official Wawel website: www.wawel.krakow.pl.