Wawel Dragon
According to a Polish legend, a cruel dragon that ate the citizens of Kraków lived in a cave at the foot of Wawel Hill until it was slaughtered by a wise shoemaker.
Although there are several versions of the end of this popular Polish legend, the most famous tells the story of a devious shoemaker that fooled the dragon by placing sulfur under the skin of a dead goat.
The dragon ate the skin and died poisoned by the sulfur. Thanks to the cobbler, the inhabitants of the region could finally live freely.
Dragon’s Den
Nowadays, the lair of the dragon is open to the public in summer. Visitors will access the cave through an old well and descend 21 meters to explore this unique site. The cave runs all the way to the banks of Vistula river.
The Dragon
At the exit of the cave is a large dragon-shaped statue carved in 1971. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions, especially for children, as the dragon expells fire out of its mouth every five minutes.
Schedule
From April 22nd to October 29th: 10:30 am - 6 pm.
Rest of the year: closed
Price
Adults: zł 9 (US$ 2.22)
Reduced admission: zł 7 (US$ 1.73)
Nearby places
Wawel Castle in Kraków (246 m) Wawel Cathedral (250 m) Archdiocesan Museum in Kraków (431 m) Archaeological Museum in Krakow (527 m) St. Andrew's Church (533 m)