Wawel Royal Castle -- History, Facts, Location, & How to Get There

 Wawel Royal Castle

Located in central Krakow, Wawel Royal Castle is a 13th century residence, and home to several of Poland’s most notable monarchs. But as a major cultural site, the Castle today operates as a museum inside a bigger Wawel complex, hosting a massive collection of military and royal objects on display.

History

From the 11th all the way to the 17th century, the castle functioned as the main royal residence for a number of Polish monarchs. It lies atop Wawel Hill. It is believed that heroic Polish prince Krakus founded it after defeating a fearsome dragon that resided in the caves beneath. Then the prince established Krakow and constructed the Wawel Castle on top of the dragon’s lair.

Legend or not, the castle in the 11th century became the home of Casimir I the Restorer, responsible for building operations that provided the castle's earliest remains today.

By the 14th century, King Ladislaus l the Short and then his son Casimir lll the Great expanded the castle considerably, prior to King Alexander l rebuilding it in the Renaissance style, of which a lot could be observed now. With its novel outer design and roomy, well lit interiors, the structure represents a unique period of Polish architecture.

Later, In the 16th century, the castle took on another role: it became the main site for hosting the sessions of senate and sejm. In 1595, after a fire, it was again re-constructed but in the Baroque style with the guidance of Sigismund III Vasa. However, in 1610, when the entire royal court moved for good to Warsaw, the castle began to fall apart.

The Third Partition of Poland in 1795 event brought Austrian occupation of Wawel, which started utilizing it as barracks and damaging a lot of its building.  But after finally retreating in 1905, they handed it back to Poland.

Wawel Castle today

The beautiful Crown Treasury and Armoury displays a big collection of regal insignia and weapon-related items from Krakow’s several years of history. In Casimir the Great’s Room, you'll find the last example of the 14th century formal apartments, alongside precious stones and relics belonging to Polish kings and queens ruling over the centuries.

The coronation sword that belonged to Sigismund I the Old can be seen on display in the Jadwiga and Jagiello’s Room. Six rooms is home to the castle’s enormous collection of military artifacts that include ceremonial weapons to complete suits of armor.

Another exhibition worth noting, ‘Art of the Orient’, which contains a big collection of Asian and Islamic artwork procured via years of successful military expeditions and trade contracts. For example, while you'll observe carpets, military standards, and tent panels from the Ottoman Empire on display, you'll see in another room a large collection of East Asian ceramics.

The entire castle complex offers an interesting look at the varying periods of Polish architecture and history, including the mysterious legendary Dragon’s Den.

Visiting Wawel Castle

Located on Wawel Hill in central Krakow, Wawel Castle is only a 10-minute walk away from the Main Market Square. The closest tram stops are Wawel, at the base of Wawel Hill, and Stradom, just a 5-minute walk away. Also, buses run to Jubilat and Stradom, a 10-minute walk away.

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Malbork Castle -- 10 Fascinating Facts -- on Europe's Largest Castle

 Malbork Castle

One of Europe's greatest castles ever constructed it sometimes is referred to as Malbork Zamek. Let's examine 10 most fascinating facts about the Malbork Castle.

1. It's situated in the heart of northern Poland.  Malbork Castle sits in the center of a town sharing the same name.

The rather small town with less than 40,000 people, is filled with a rich past, particularly on account of the huge castle standing within its boundaries.

2. German crusaders, belonging to the Teutonic Order, built it.  But becoming eventually a Catholic religious order, the Teutonic knights received the task to assist pilgrims on their travels to the Holy Land.

3. The complex comprises 3 castles erected in a large enclosed area.  The castle's original version was finished about 1300.

It was built in a strategic site on the River Nogat's east bank and the Teutonic Order finally established their headquarters in the castle. The whole area in which this castle was erected covers 52 acres. The complex includes 3 castles and an enormous castle wall that surrounds the whole perimeter.

4. The central castle boasts a superb record after completion.  At the time, its buildings were finished about 1406, the structure being Europe's biggest fortified Gothic building in the early fifteen-century. In addition, it was the largest brick structure in the world.

5. It was home to Polish kings for 3+ centuries.  After the Teutonic Order finally abandoned the castle owing to money problems and a potential invasion in 1454, both the town and castle fell officially under control of Poland's kingdom. It then became the Polish king's official residence until Prussia took it over in the First Partition of Poland in 1772.

6. After the Prussian army used the castle, it suffered ruins.  The battered and crumbling castle served as a barracks for Prussia's army. Then it served in the capacity of a hospital and even weapons arsenal throughout the Napoleonic era.

Though Napoleon himself dropped by twice between 1807 and 1812, this didn't stop the medieval castle from worsening.

7. The initial restoration period lasted almost 100 years.  After Napoleon's final defeat, the first serious restoration period occurred from 1816 until the beginning of WWl.

8. Its architecture became Hitler's blueprint for indoctrination centers.  After the Germans took it by force, the castle grew quite popular throughout the Nazi regime, even serving Hitler Youth as well as League of German Girls related propaganda events.

The castle assumed a dark version as it transformed into a fine model structure for other future structures called fondly National Socialist Order Castles. Next, there was mass construction of Nazi propaganda indoctrination centers being built across Germany.

9. The castle underwent destruction again as WWll ended.  Due to the Nazis using it as they did, continuous onslaughts in the surrounding area flattened half of the castle. 

Though the other structures in the castle complex were damaged severely, the castle's outer walls remained intact. 

10. It was at last fully restored and UNESCO listed.  Following WWll, Malbork Castle returned to Poland's control and was then restored completely to its previous glory. The restoration began in 1962 after a fire leveled more structures in 1959. 

On account of its many centuries of history and superb medieval architecture, UNESCO awarded it its World Heritage Site badge in 1997.

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Top 10 Facts About Oseberg Ship -- Norway's Greatest Discovery

Oseberg Ship Museum

 

Many people ask, "What is the Oseberg Ship?" Obviously, they want to know more about this incredible Viking vessel. To accommodate this desire, I have put together this list of top 10 facts about the Oseberg Ship. 

1. In 1904, archaeologist Professor Gustafson started digging at a farm in Norway. In only less than 3 months, he and his helpers excavated a mound, discovering one of the world's most important Viking era finds in history.

2. The vessel, measuring 17.8 feet long and 16.7 feet wide, is not only the oldest Viking longship but the best-preserved one to have been found.

3. Because the total weight of earth and rocks combined crushed the ship's structure, it took 21 painstaking long years for specialists to piece the entire burial vessel together as it once was.

4. It was re-constructed using 90% of its original timber. As a Karve, a small kind of Viking longship, it's built nearly mostly of oak and can be rowed and sailed. With fifteen pairs of oar holes, 30 men can row it, going no faster than about 10 knots, or 11.5 mph.

5. The ship's prow and stern are lavishly adorned with human and animal depictions, plus the bowhead is etched to appear like a spiraling snakehead.

6. The vessel's incredible decoration offers clues at the lofty status of everyone buried inside its wooden frame, for such an exquisite ship can just be used for Vikings possessing wealth and status.

7. Scientific investigations now reveal that one female passed away in the 70 to 80 age range, and a second died about 50 to 55.

8. One or the two ladies formed part of Viking aristocracy, playing significant religious or political roles in their community.

9. Several items were also found in the burial such as a gorgeously designed cart, 3 adorned sleighs, beds, a variety of lavish textiles, 5 well-carved animal heads, farming tools, and combs.

10. Many bones were discovered belonging to 6 dogs, 2 oxen, and 15 horses, probably representing sacrificial beasts sent to accompany the women on their journey to the afterlife.

Today, you can visit the Oseberg Museum to get a far better first-hand experience of the long-survived Viking ship.

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