Wawel Hill was inhabited by the Vistulans tribe in ancient times. The settlement came to prominence during the reigns of Boleslaw the Brave and Kazimierz the Restorer. The latter made Wawel the seat of his political power. In the late medieval period, from the 14th century onwards, the royal residence and a new cathedral were built. The Cathedral houses the relics of St Stanislaw, patron saint of Poland. The last rulers of the Jagiellonian dynasty transformed the Gothic castle into one of the most magnificent Reneissance royal residences in Central Europe. They also endowed the Cathedral with important works of art and architecture. Although the capital of Poland was moved from Krakow to Warsaw at the end of the 16th century, royal coronations and funeral ceremonies continued to take place in Krakow. A series of events in the 17th and 18th centuries led to the dilapidation of the Castle. The Austrian army was garrisoned here from 1795 until the early 20th century. The Castle and Cathedral have both regained their former magnificence through an intensive restoration programme. Fortunately Wawel was saved from destruction in both World Wars.
redactor1 Grudzień 20th, 2018
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