Bask in the golden light reflected from the Sigismund Chapel’s huge dome as you explore Krakow’s majestic cathedral. Wawel Cathedral’s walls are adorned with fine examples of Renaissance art, including intricate sculptures, stuccos and paintings. Explore the chapels within the cathedral to find the final resting place of most of Poland’s rulers and climb the cathedral tower to see the Sigismund Bell.
The Roman Catholic cathedral is one of the most important religious sites in the country and dates back to the 14th century. The cathedral was used for the coronation ceremonies of many Polish rulers and today 41 one of them are buried beneath its floor. Admire the red marble sarcophagus of King Vladislav II, located just within the cathedral doors, or descend into ornate marble tombs that are in one of the cathedral’s chapels. St. Stanislaus’ silver tomb, draped with a black marble canopy, is in the centre of the cathedral. A series of reliefs depicting his life stories surround the tomb.
Each chapel is decorated with Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance artwork, with the Sigismund Chapel housing works by Georg Pencz, Santi Gucci and Hermann Vischer. Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross to see rare examples of Russian murals from the 15th century and immaculately preserved stained-glass windows.
Climb to the belfry to see the famous Sigismund Bell. Reach out to touch the smooth exterior of the 600-year-old bell. A national symbol of Poland, the bell weighs nearly 10,000 kilograms (22,000 pounds). It takes 12 people to make it chime, so the ceremony is reserved for special occasions.
The Wawel Cathedral is located on Wawel Hill within the castle grounds. From the Old Town you can walk to the cathedral in 10 minutes. Trams and buses service the area from other parts of Krakow. The cathedral is free to enter but a fee applies to visit the tombs and bell tower. The cathedral is closed on public holidays.
