Wawel Cathedral, Krakow

51

Wawel Cathedral, Krakow

Wawel Cathedral, Krakow (must see)

Wawel Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church and cathedral of the Archdiocese of Kraków. More than 900 years old, it is the Polish national sanctuary and traditionally has served as coronation site of the Polish monarchs. The church is also the main burial site for Polish monarchs since the 14th century. The crypts beneath the Wawel Cathedral hold the tombs of many national heroes, generals and revolutionaries.

The current Gothic structure is the third edifice on this site: the first was constructed and destroyed in the 11th century. The second one, constructed in the 12th century, was destroyed by a fire in 1305. The construction of the current one began in the 14th century on the orders of bishop Nanker.

There is a museum inside that was opened in 1978 by Pope John Paul II and is known for its superb religious art collection. There are many precious sculptures, paintings, golden monstrances, old crosses, and fancy reliquaries. Here you will see one of the most precious of things in Poland, King Sigismund II August’s ornate sword from the 16th century.

Given its history and national significance, Wawel Cathedral is well worth a visit on your trip to Krakow.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Krakow. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Wawel Cathedral on Map

Sight Name: Wawel Cathedral
Sight Location: Krakow, Poland (See walking tours in Krakow)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Krakow, Poland

Create Your Own Walk in Krakow

Create Your Own Walk in Krakow

Creating your own self-guided walk in Krakow is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Krakow Introduction Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Jewish Heritage Tour in Krakow

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Historical House Museums Tour

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One such...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
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By far the most iconic of these is the Basilica of Saint Mary. A...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles