Katedra Wawelska
Churches of Kraków
The royal necropolis of Poland.
History
The present cathedral is the third church on this site. The first, dedicated to St Wenceslas, began to be built around the year 1000, when the Bishopric of Kraków was established at the Congress of Gniezno. The second, known as the Herman cathedral after Duke Władysław Herman, during whose reign its construction began, was consecrated in 1142. It burned down in 1305; surviving parts of the Romanesque building include the Crypt of St Leonard and the lower sections of two towers. Władysław Łokietek was crowned king by Archbishop Janisław in 1320, while the church was still in ruins. This ceremony began the tradition of crowning Polish rulers in Kraków Cathedral.
The Gothic building was begun by Bishop Nanker. First the chancel with its ambulatory was completed (1346), and then, in 1346-1364, the main nave, transept and side aisles were added. Casimir the Great attended the consecration on 28 March 1364. The most important Renaissance addition is the Sigismund Chapel, founded by Sigismund the Old and designed by Bartolomeo Berrecci. The cathedral's present appearance largely results from a thorough restoration in 1895-1910, paid for by public donations.
St Stanislaus of Szczepanów and almost all the Polish kings, from Władysław Łokietek to Stanisław Leszczyński, are buried here. The cathedral is also a national pantheon: in 1817 the body of Prince Józef Poniatowski was laid here, a year later Tadeusz Kościuszko, in 1890 the remains of Adam Mickiewicz brought from France, in 1927 Juliusz Słowacki and in 1935 Józef Piłsudski. In the middle of the church stands the Confession of St Stanislaus, a Baroque structure from 1626-1629 known as Ara Patriae, the Altar of the Homeland. Kings hung captured war trophies beside it; Władysław Jagiełło left the banners of the Teutonic Knights from Grunwald here. Three towers rise around the cathedral, and the northern one, the Sigismund Tower, holds the famous Sigismund Bell.
Did you know?
Next to the sacristy hangs a crucifix from the late 14th century, known as the cross of St Queen Jadwiga. Legend says Jadwiga prayed before it and heard the voice of the crucified Christ. In 1987 the queen's relics were placed in the altar, right in front of this image.