Zinar Castle

Kraków is one of the most beautiful Polish cities, with a tradition dating back over 1000 years. It is the city of Polish kings, the motherland of artists, the seat of the most important cultural institutions.

The history of Krakow has been associated with power for many hundreds of years, it was the seat of Polish kings as the capital of the state. In the minds of Poles, it is Wawel in Krakow that is a symbol of royal power and a witness to the formation of Polishness. Here, in 1320, the first coronation of Władysław Łokietek and his wife Jadwiga took place. Since then, until 1734, Krakow was the place of coronation of Polish kings, and the Wawel Cathedral also became a royal necropolis.

The rule of King Casimir the Great, patron of the arts and protector of science, turned out to be extremely important for the city. In 1364, thanks to his efforts, the oldest university was founded - the Krakow Academy, which gave rise to the Jagiellonian University. Another great ruler - Władysław Jagiełło started the largest Polish dynasty ruling the country for over 200 years. The royal court played an important role in shaping cultural and artistic life. During this period, the Wawel Castle became a pearl of Renaissance architecture, and the Sigismund Chapel - the most beautiful sepulchral chapel in Poland.

Kraków was the capital of Poland until the beginning of the 17th century, when King Sigismund III Vasa informally transferred it to Warsaw while changing their permanent residence. The Wawel Cathedral remained the place of coronations and funerals of Polish kings, and Kraków - the capital and royal city, where other capital institutions, such as the Crown Treasury, functioned. Currently, the complex of buildings that make up the Wawel Royal Castle, entered on the UNESCO list, is one of the greatest tourist attractions in Krakow, and at the same time still remains a living monument to Polish power.