Wawel Hill, Royal Castle

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Wawel Hill, Royal Castle

The Wawel Castle is a castle residency located in central Kraków, Poland. Built at the behest of King Casimir III the Great,[2] it consists of a number of structures situated around the Italian-styled main courtyard. The castle, being one of the largest in Poland, represents nearly all European architectural styles of medieval, renaissance and baroque periods. The Wawel Royal Castle and the Wawel Hill constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in the country. In 1978 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Centre of Kraków.

For centuries the residence of the kings of Poland and the symbol of Polish statehood, the Castle is now one of the country’s premier art museums. Established in 1930, the museum encompasses ten curatorial departments responsible for collections of paintings, including an important collection of Italian Renaissance paintings, prints, sculpture, textiles, among them the Sigismund II Augustus tapestry collection, goldsmith’s work, arms and armor, ceramics, Meissen porcelain, and period furniture. The museum’s holdings in oriental art include the largest collection of Ottoman tents in Europe. With seven specialized conservation studios, the museum is also an important center for the conservation of works of art.

Photo 638, May 2007

Wawel Hill, Royal Castle

Conveniently situated in the city centre on Wawel Hill, the royal home was the seat of power from the 11th century until 1609 when the capital was transferred to Warsaw. It was later occupied by Austrian troops until the collapse of the Autro-Hungarian Empire with the end of WWI in 1918. In 1930, the museum was opened in an attempt to recapture some of its former glory. Visitors admire a large collection of Renaissance furniture, paintings and jewellery. There is an armoury with treasury inside the castle as well as other exhibitions in the surrounding chapels.

May 2007, Photo 637