Towards the southern part of Poland, just outside the medieval city of Krakow, River Vistula takes a sharp bend. Sitting snugly on a hill is the 14th century Wawel Castle. It is predominantly Gothic, whimsical and sprawling, comprising a series of buildings. Inside the castle, you’ll find elegant rooms with carvings, Renaissance galleries and massive tapestries brought from Flanders.An impressive cathedral lies next door to the castle featuring beautiful artistry and sculpture. Above the main doorway there are a set of bones supposedly belonging to mammoths. These bones are hung there for good omen and they also prove that the cathedral has a pagan connection. Polish kings were crowned and buried along with national heroes and poets in the cathedral.
On the castle’s grounds, on the sloping, grassy banks leading to the river is a metallic sculpture of a fire-breathing dragon. The sculpture is built as a tribute to the famous Wawel dragon. According to legend, a vicious and pillaging dragon that feasted on young girls lived here and the king’s efforts to have it slain turned futile. Finally, a poor, humble cobbler, Skuba, took up the challenge and emerged successful. He also won the hand of the princess.
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