 Wawel Royal Castle in
Krakow
People lived on the Wawel Hill at least as early as fifty
thousand years ago, in the Paleolithic Age. In the Neolithic
and the Bronze Age, i.e. some three thousand years ago, the
settlement was apparently bustling with trade, with assorted
crafts and with farming.
It was at the turn of the past
millennium when the rulers of Poland took up their residence
here. During the early 16th century King Sigismund I the Old
(1506-1548) brought in the best native and foreign artists
(Italian architects and sculptors, German decorators, etc.)
to create the splendid Renaissance palace-cum-castle which
survived, little changed, till now.
The Wawel Royal Castle proved to be a
paragon of stately residence in Central and Eastern Europe
and served widely as a model throughout the region. Its
magnificent arcaded courtyard of great dimensions and
immaculate proportions formed the ideal setting for
tournaments and various court events. They were watched by
royalty, courtiers and guests from the galleries which
otherwise served as the main communications between rooms.
The Wawel Royal Castle has its “piano nobile” – i.e. the
state apartments – on the top, third floor rather than the
second like Italian palaces. The castle’s second floor
contained private apartments of the royal family, whereas
the court officials worked and lived downstairs. Visitors
can see many exquisite interiors of the Royal Castle
complete with beautiful period furniture and world-class
objects of art. Some exhibits prove absolutely unique by any
standards.
In
November visitors are granted free admission
to all permanent exhibitions at the Krakow
Royal Castle.
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Wawel Hill in Krakow, the mecca of every Pole and a
must for foreign tourists, is a microcosm of Polish history and
culture.
Wawel Cathedral
Poland's impressive national shrine shelters plenty of
superb church art.
Arrases
The matchless collection of 16th-century monumental
Flemish tapestries.
Audience Hall
The Royal Castle's throne chamber has the most
singular decor.
Crown
Treasury and Armory
The Crown Treasury shows Polish royal memorabilia, jewels and
other precious items. The adjacent Armory displays 15th to
18th-century arms.
Dragon's Den
Huge natural cavity inside the Wawel Hill is the
legendary home of a legendary monster.
Wawel chakra |
