Zinar Castle

According to legend - the grave of the legendary founder of Krakow. And in fact? We know little of the facts, and the secret follows the secret ...

The prince (according to another version, the king) Krak was supposed to be the legendary founder of Kraków. When he died, his subjects, out of gratitude for his goodness and just rule, erected a grave for him in the form of a mound. This is what the legend says.

We don't know much of the facts: it is certain that the mound is the oldest building in the city, its height is 16 meters, the diameter at the base is 60 meters, it is located on the right bank of the Vistula (in Podgórze), on the limestone hill of Krzemionki. Moreover, a mystery follows a mystery: when, thanks to whom and why was the mound created? We don't know anything for sure.

It may have been built in the 8th century. This is indicated by a bronze Avar hairpin from that period (the Avars, a nomadic people from Central Asia, came to Eastern Europe in the 6th century), which archaeologists found inside the mound. Some scientists, however, link its origin to the Celts and their astronomical calendar, dating it to the 1st century CE. This is indicated by the mutual location of the Krakus mounds and Wanda, 10 km away (in Nowa Huta).

In pre-Christian times, the mound was probably a place of Slavic allusions celebrated in spring. The deceased were honored here and funeral ceremonies were organized. The tradition of celebrating on and around the mound moved to Christian times, and the celebrations turned into a feast. During games, fires were lit here, fencing competitions were held, and the poor were thrown from the top of the mound with food and money. This indulgence, held until today on Tuesday after Easter, here and at the church of St. Benedict on the neighboring Lasota hill is called Rękawka. Linguists refer this name to Czech rakew (coffin) or Serbian crayfish (grave), which could confirm that the mound was a place of worship of deceased ancestors or simply a grave. On the other hand, tradition says that Krak's subjects carried soil to his grave in their hands and sleeves, which was immortalized in the name.

We still don't know anything for sure. The mythical founder of Krakow carefully keeps his secrets...