Wawel Dragon's Den & The Vistula: Myth of King Krak
Why is it significant?
Emerge from the shadowy limestone stairs of the Smocza Jama cave onto the grassy riverbank of the Vistula River, stopping directly before the jagged, seven-headed bronze sculpture of the Wawel Dragon.
Key Facts
| Place | Wawel Dragon's Den & The Vistula: Myth of King Krak |
|---|---|
| Address | Wawel, 31-001 Kraków |
| Geo Coordinates | 50.05310, 19.93480 |
| Part of Walk | Kraków's Royal Road: The Medieval Cloth Hall, Dragon's Den, and Wawel Kings |
| Generated | Generated |
Emerge from the shadowy limestone stairs of the Smocza Jama cave onto the grassy riverbank of the Vistula River, stopping directly before the jagged, seven-headed bronze sculpture of the Wawel Dragon. Wait a few moments: every few minutes, the bronze monster spits a roaring jet of real orange fire from its jaws!
According to the thirteenth-century chronicle of Wincenty Kadłubek, this subterranean karst cave was once the lair of a monstrous reptile that terrorized the settlement, demanding daily offerings of cattle and young maidens. Legendary prince Krakus, founder of Kraków, defeated the dragon through cunning: a clever cobbler stuffed a sheep skin with burning sulfur and pitch and tossed it outside the cave.
The greedy dragon devoured the decoy. The sulfur burned so intensely in its belly that the beast rushed to the Vistula River and drank half the river's water until it burst with a loud bang! Krakus built his castle atop the rock, and the liberated people named the town Kraków in his honor.
Stand by the water's edge and watch the swans drift along the river as sunset bathes the fortress above in rose and gold. You have journeyed through the living heart of Poland's royal history and timeless folklore.