Krakow: City of kings and dragons

Hejnal - Wiki image

As WYD approaches, we will be publishing a series of articles about Krakow, and other places in southern Poland.

Krakow is located in the south of Poland, on the River Vistula. More than a thousand years old, the city was once the seat of the Polish kings and capital of Poland. Krakow's Old Town is a unique treasury of art, historical monuments and buildings, representing almost all architectural styles, from the Middle Ages to the present day. It boasts the largest town square of medieval Europe, unchanged since 1257. The square was included in the first list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978.

For the last 600 years, on the hour, the sound of the Krakow's trumpet call can be heard from the tower of St Mary's Basilica. The trumpeter plays the Hejnal, a hymn to Our Lady in each direction. The player stops abruptly towards the end of the last verse. According to legend this is in memory of a trumpeter in 1241 who tried to warn the citizens of the approaching Tartars and was shot in the throat by an arrow.

The Cloth Hall - the medieval market hall located in the middle of the Market Square - is one of the most recognizable Polish monuments. Krakow also has the second oldest institution of higher education in Central Europe - the Jagiellonian University.

Wawel Royal Castle has overlooking the city for centuries. This was the residence of the Polish kings, dating back to mid-11th century. Under Wawel Hill there is a cave where Smok the dragon lived in ancient times. (There is a fire-breathing statue of him there now).

The Kazimierz district in Krakow is an example of a centuries-long coexistence of Christian and Jewish culture. These days it is full of antique shops and art markets, cafes, restaurants and pubs. In 2000, Krakow was named European Capital of Culture and in 2013 awarded the title of UNESCO City of Literature. Every year, nearly 100 festivals and other world-famous cultural events take place here.