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Hourly
bugle call from the tower of St Mary’s Church in Krakow
Every full hour a golden trumpet shows
above Krakow’s central Grand Square in the west window
just below the spire of the higher
tower of the Basilica of the
Virgin Mary's. Then a characteristic
signal trumpet melody, known and dear to every Pole, resounds
all over the city’s Old Town historical
district. All of a sudden music comes to an
abrupt end. Next the same bugle call is played towards the east,
the south and the north. At noon the whole ritual
is broadcast on the Polish national radio.
St. Mary's bugle call and trumpeter
from Krakow
The Krakow signal bugle call, or Hejnal Mariacki, dates back to the
Middle Ages when it was announcing the opening
and the closing of the city gates. The bugler
also played it to alarm his fellow citizens
whenever he saw a fire or the enemy forces. And
the melody abrupt ending is said to commemorate a trumpeter from
Krakow who was shot through his throat by a Tatar archer
in 1241 when the Mongols besieged the city.
Click
here to listen to the Krakow Signal
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Basilica
of the Virgin Mary's
The immense Gothic church, Krakow's
principal temple since the 13th century, shelters
many world-class works of art.
Great Altar
The world's greatest Gothic sculpture
The Crown
Royal giant headdress tops the city of
Krakow since 1666
Krakow churches
Krakow numerous churches are
architectural gems, art hoards, and spiritual
hubs
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