| |
 Dragon's den: cave
exploration in central Krakow.
Tradition connects the beginnings of
Krakow with one Prince Krak who rid his people of
a dragon devouring both their stock and their
virgins. For centuries a large, 200-foot-long natural cavern in
the western rocky slope of the Wawel Hill above
the Vistula (Wisla) river bank has been known as the
monster’s den. Today the cave still attracts swarms of
visitors.
In
fact, the Dragon’s
Lair (Polish ‘Smocza Jama’) is the area’s oldest
residence, inhabited by man from the Stone Age
through the 16th century.
Visiting
the Dragon's Den
Visitors can enter it
via a turret of the west fortifications atop the
Wawel Hill. There is a ticketing machine at the entrance
but tickets to the 'Dragon's Lair' are also available at the
Royal Castle's main box office.
A
long, spiral flight of steep stairs - 135 steps - takes
visitors down to a succession of three chambers under the
Wawel Hill. The staircase is a converted well of the 19th
century.
The
underground route is just 80 meters in length. The second,
largest cavern is 25 meters long and ten meters high. The
place is well lit with electric lamps.
Tourist
can see only part of the 270-meter-long Wawel cave. The rest
of it, including five underground ponds and narrow passages
are too dangerous and off limits to
visitors.
The
exit leads through the mouth of the cave situated next to the
embankment upon the Wisla river.
Fire-breathing
monster.
A
bony life-size bronze sculpture of the Krakow Dragon stands on
a boulder by the exit of the Dragon's Lair. Children's pet
monster since its unveiling in 1972, the sinewy creature is
the creation of Krakow's maverick artist Bronislaw Chromy. The
sculpture spurts fire on demand via a SMS
message.
|
Hill
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.
Wawel Royal Castle
Home to three dynasties of Poland's
monarchs. Its stately halls and exquisite
chambers are filled with priceless art, best
period furniture and rare ancient objects. The
collection of the 16th-century monumental Flemish
tapestries is matchless.
Audience Hall
The Royal Castle's throne chamber
has the most singular decor
Arrases
The matchless collection of 16th-century
monumental Flemish tapestries.
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.
|
| |
Regular
ticket price to the DRAGON'S LAIR is less than one euro.
Open daily since May 1 through October from 10.00
a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
The
Wawel Hill is
accessible to visitors daily since April through
September from 6.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. and since
October through March from 6.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
The Royal
Castle's arcaded courtyard is off limits
half an hour before the closing time. Exhibitions
in the Royal Castle are closed on Christmas, New
Year's Day, Easter, November 1 and
November 11.
See
the opening hours of the Royal Castle's permanent exhibitions
and other attractions of the Wawel Hill in Krakow
The
following are permanent exhibitions of the Wawel Royal Castle:
Royal
Chambers - historical interiors,
tapestry collection of Sigismund II Augustus,
royal portraits, Italian Renaissance furniture,
Italian and Dutch painting of the 14th to 17th
century.
Crown Treasury and Armory -
regalia, jewelry, precious weapons, armors and
caparisons; Polish and West European.
Oriental Art - Turkish tents and
banners, Turkish and Persian weapons and carpets,
Chinese and Japanese ceramics.
The Lost Wawel - archaeological
and architectural reserve of the early
11th-century church of St. St. Felix and
Adauctus' with surroundings; objects excavated by
archeologists on the Wawel Hill; ornate stove
tiles of the 16th and 17th century. Plus
multimedia presentation of the Wawel Hill's
history.
Admission
terms and fees might be subject to changes. For
inquiries and booking please contact the Tourist
Service Office (BOT), Wawel 5, 31-001 Krakow,
Poland, tel.: (+48) 124225155 ext. 291,
tel./fax: (+48) 124221697
|
