Our first afternoon and evening we strolled through the park that rings the old town to the market square. Being a Saturday the square and streets that surround it were buzzing with tourists and locals out enjoying the spectacular weather we’ve been enjoying.
Wawel castle built atop a hill overlooking the Vistula River has a commanding presence. The complex consists of numerous buildings of great historical and national importance, including the Wawel Cathedral where Polish monarchs were crowned and buried. Some of Wawel’s oldest stone buildings can be traced back to 970 with additions in 12th to 14th centuries. The castle we see today was built in the 14th century.
The current Wawel Cathedral is the third on this site; the first was a wooden structure and destroyed in the 11th century; the second one, constructed in the 12th century, was destroyed by a fire in 1305. It is a national sanctuary which served as the coronation site of Polish monarchs and contains tombs of many royal or saintly Poles within the church and in the crypt.
Pope John Paul II was particularly attached to Wawel Cathedral. As an ordinary priest he celebrated his first Holy Mass at the altar in St Leonard’s Crypt on the 2nd of November, 1946 . Wojtyła was consecrated Bishop on the 28th of September, 1958, St Wenceslaus Day, a patron of Wawel Cathedral,. He was installed here as Archbishop on the 8th of March, 1964, and later as Cardinal on the 9th of July, 1967.
St. Mary’s Basilica is a magnificent 14th century brick Gothic landmark in the Market Square which houses the world’s largest altarpiece. The spectacular altar was carved between 1477 and 1489 by the German sculptor Veit Stoss, who spent 12 years crafting this masterwork. It measures roughly 13 meters high and 11 meters wide with over 200 intricately carved figures from linden wood. The altar was dismantled and hidden in September 1939, but was seized by the Nazis and taken to Nuremberg. It was recovered and returned to Kraków in 1946. In the late 19th century, the interior received its famous starry-blue vaulted murals.
A bugler plays from the tallest tower of St. Mary’s every hour on the hour to honor a legendary guard who was shot in the throat by an invading archer while sounding alarm, thereby saving Krakow from a Mongol attack in 1241. Known as the Hejnał mariacki (St. Mary’s Trumpet Call), this traditional five-note trumpet tune always cuts off mid-note. This break commemorates the exact moment the Tatar arrow struck the brave watchman. Originally played by the town guard, the Hejnał has been performed by active members of the fire brigade, who also use the church tower as a lookout post.
We tried many of the local specialties to include a dinner of wild boar, and another with delicious lamb and traditional paczki (donuts) with rose jam, and the krakow bagels that look like pretzels.
