Wawel Dragon (sculpture)
In the Footsteps of the Wawel Dragon
The famous sculpture by Bronisław Chromy. It breathes fire!
History
The bronze sculpture of the Wawel Dragon was made in 1972 by Bronisław Chromy. It was placed on a rock above the Vistula by Wawel Hill, next to the exit from the Dragon's Den. According to legend, a dragon lived in the cave at the foot of the hill and devoured cattle and people until it was killed by a trick: it was given a bait stuffed with sulphur. In spring 1973 a gas installation was fitted inside the sculpture, so that the dragon breathes fire every three minutes. The gas and electrical system was designed and built by Feliks Prochownik. The sculpture is one of Kraków's most famous tourist attractions.
Did you know?
At first the plan was for the dragon to stand partly in the current of the Vistula. The idea was dropped because rubbish carried by the river would have caught on the sculpture.