The The Legend of Wawel Legend of Wawel

DragonDragon

DDistance between Mszanaistance between Mszana DolnaDolna and  and CCraraccowow-56,7 km-56,7 km

Long, long ago, during the reign of Prince Krak -Long, long ago, during the reign of Prince Krak -the legedary founder of the city of Cracow - the the legedary founder of the city of Cracow - the young girls disappeared constantly, and nobody young girls disappeared constantly, and nobody

in Cracow did not know what happened to them. One in Cracow did not know what happened to them. One day it turned out that at the foot of Wawel Hill in a huge day it turned out that at the foot of Wawel Hill in a huge cave a terrible dragon lived. The dragon captivated not cave a terrible dragon lived. The dragon captivated not only cattle, pigs and all game, but the most delicious, only cattle, pigs and all game, but the most delicious,

however, were these young girls. however, were these young girls.

WawelWawel

Prince Krak, therefore, declared: "Whoever kills Prince Krak, therefore, declared: "Whoever kills a dragon, gets half of the kingdom from a dragon, gets half of the kingdom from

me and my daughter for a wife. me and my daughter for a wife. " Many brave knights came to fight the " Many brave knights came to fight the

dragon.However, none succeded to beat him. Finally, a dragon.However, none succeded to beat him. Finally, a young shoemaker had the great idea! He took a young shoemaker had the great idea! He took a

sheep skin stuffed with sulfur and put under sheep skin stuffed with sulfur and put under the dragon's cave. The hungry monster saw the dragon's cave. The hungry monster saw

the delicious lamb and did not think long - devoured it in the delicious lamb and did not think long - devoured it in

one breath.one breath.

Immediately afterwards he felt a burning sensation Immediately afterwards he felt a burning sensation in his stomach. With each moment he felt it even in his stomach. With each moment he felt it even more. Thirsty, the dragon ran to the bank of the more. Thirsty, the dragon ran to the bank of the

Vistula River, and began greedily drinking water from Vistula River, and began greedily drinking water from a river. He drank a sip, second, third, but still could a river. He drank a sip, second, third, but still could

not quench their thirst.He was not quench their thirst.He was dranking so on, drinking continuosly dranking so on, drinking continuosly

and...broke up! The city was liberated from and...broke up! The city was liberated from the terrible dragon, the shoemaker got from the the terrible dragon, the shoemaker got from the

king the promised reward and married his daughter.king the promised reward and married his daughter.

Vistula RiverVistula River

Dragon's Den Dragon's Den The cave, where according to the legend, the The cave, where according to the legend, the dragon lived, is open to the public. A string of dragon lived, is open to the public. A string of

caves has 81 meters long. You can see them in caves has 81 meters long. You can see them in every season except winter. To the cave you can every season except winter. To the cave you can

go directly by the spiral staircase descending from go directly by the spiral staircase descending from the top of Wawel Hill.At the exit of the the top of Wawel Hill.At the exit of the

cave is a statue of a dragon, which breathes real fire cave is a statue of a dragon, which breathes real fire from time to time. from time to time.

Dragon’s den in CracowDragon’s den in Cracow

The endThe end