Saturday, October 30, 2010

Wawel Castle, Krakow, Poland

 Narges gifted us with a private English language tour throughout the Castle in Krakow.  I was going to take notes...because I can't learn and remember 1000+ years of Polish history in 3 hours ( I am sure I heard every detail, however).  Luckily WikiPedia has a nice summary for your review and a couple of photos that we couldn't get.  The tour guide was an art history major with a minor in Polish history - and is/was a teacher so she was perfect for the tour guide of the castle.  I'm putting in a few photos of the art.  Amazing stuff that people can do in the art field!





 Tour guide in Castle court yard
 "Furnace" - keeps the castle warm - the art work on it is wonderful.
 Ceiling


 Look at the size of the tapestry
And the rug size

 Heads of state!

Private chapel for mass
 off the king's bedroom - so he didn't have to get dressed.

 Just a few of the multiple pieces of art still in the castle.
Swords from what period? displayed in the castle.



From WikiPedia - 
The Gothic Wawel Castle in Cracow in Poland was built at the behest of Casimir III the Great and consists of a number of structures situated around the central courtyard. In the 14th century it was rebuilt by Jogaila and Jadwiga of Poland. Their reign saw the addition of the tower called the Hen's Foot (Kurza Stopka) and the Danish Tower.[1] The Jadwiga and Jogaila Chamber, in which the sword Szczerbiec, was used in coronation ceremonies, is exhibited today and is another remnant of this period.[2] Other structures were developed on the hill during that time as well, in order to serve as quarters for the numerous clergy, royal clerks and craftsmen. Defensive walls and towers such as Jordanka, Lubranka, Sandomierska, Tęczyńska, Szlachecka, Złodziejska and Panieńska were erected in the same period.
The Crown Treasury situated in the historic Gothic rooms which were used from the 15th century on for storing the Polish coronation insignia and Crown Jewels, feature on display objects from the former Treasury that survived plunder, among them the memorabilia of Polish monarchs including members of their families and eminent personages, as well as the coronation sword Szczerbiec.[6]

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