CRACOW 189

dates from 1504 and has

quilted embroidery depicting

scenes from St Stanisław’s life.

Some fascinating pieces of

royal memorabilia are also

on display at the museum.

“Lost Wawel”

Exhibition

dis plays various

finds from

archae ological

excavations on the

Wawel Hill 0

Fortifications on

the Wawel 8

Fortyfikacje, Mury Obronne

Wawel. Map C4. v 8, 10, 18, 36,

38, 40.

The Wawel Hill was fortified

from early times but today

only fragments of the oldest

Gothic fortifica tions remain.

How ever, three towers raised

in the second half of the 15th

century still survive – the

Senatorial Tower, the Thieves’

Tower and the Sandomierz

Tower. Of the fortifica tions

dating between the 16th and

17th centuries the most inter-

esting is the Vasa Gate. The

monu ment to the national hero

Tadeusz Kościuszko, leader of

the failed insurrection of 1794,

on the Władysław Bastion is

another highlight. The Wawel

continu ed to play a defensive

role into the 19th century, and

a system of fortifica tions dating

between the late 18th and mid-

19th centuries can still be seen.

Cathedral

Museum^9

Muzeum Katedralne

Wawel 3. Map C4. Tel (012) 422

5155. v 3, 6, 8, 10, 18, 40.

      Oct–Mar: 9am–4pm Mon–Sat;

      
      

      Apr–Sep: 9am–5pm Mon–Sat. ¢ 1
      Jan, Easter, 15 Aug & 25 Dec. &

      
      

This museum is located in

buildings near the cathedral

and contains a valuable

collection of pieces from the

cathedral treasury. Among the

finest liturgical vessels and

vestments is the chasuble of

Bishop Piotr Kmita, which

“Lost Wawel”

Exhibition^0

Wawel Zaginiony

Wawel 5. Map C4. Tel (012) 422

5155. v 3, 6, 8, 10, 18, 40.

      Apr–Oct: 9:30am–5pm Tue–Fri,

      
      

      9:30am–1pm Mon, 11am–4pm
      Sat–Sun; Nov–Mar: 9:30am–4pm
      Tue–Sat, 10am–4pm Sun. & free
      Nov–Mar: Sun; Apr–Oct: Mon.
      http://www.wawel.krakow.pl

      
      

For anyone interested in

archaeology, this exhibition is

a real delight. The display

charts the development of the

Wawel over a long period of

time, and includes a virtual

image of the Wawel buildings

as they existed in the early

Middle Ages, arch aeological

finds from Wawel Hill and a

partially reconstructed early

Romanesque chapel dedicated

to the Blessed Virgin. Built at

the turn of the 11th century,

the chapel was discovered

during research work in 1917.

Sandomierz Tower, one of three

towers of the Wawel fortifications

Embroidered hood of Bishop

Trzebicki’s cope, Cathedral Museum

Chapel of the Blessed Virgin, part

of the “Lost Wawel” exhibition

The Crown Treasury and
Armoury situated in the
historic Gothic rooms of
the castle were used for
storing the Polish corona-
tion insignia and Crown
Jewels. Mem orabilia of
the Polish monarchs and
objects from the former
treasury are also on
display here.

KEY

Suggested route

Thieves’ Tower

Fortified walls

Sandomierz

Tower

Senatorial

Tower