WAWEL CASTLE
The royal castle on Wawel was probably built in the 11th century as a defensive fortress and a place of residence of tribal settlers. At the end of the first millennium, Wawel began to play an important role as the main center of political power. The first historical ruler of Poland Mieszko I ( 965 – 992 ), as well as his successors elected him to one of their seats. It is a Polish fortress and a historical treasure. The establishment of Krakow as the capital of the country led to its numerous expansions. Currently, the castle occupies 40,000 m2 of which buildings are 13,500 m2. Its exterior and interior are Renaissance, Baroque and partly classical.
The castle has 71 exhibition halls, as well as the Wawel Cathedral – the place of coronation and burial of 17 Polish kings. The nursery of the castle is the royal gardens, where a variety of flowers and herbs were grown.
The royal castle on Wawel is the most famous such object in Poland and one of the few in Europe and the world.