Wawel Castle (Zamek Krolewski na Wawelu) description and photos - Poland: Krakow (Topic)

Wawel Castle (Zamek Krolewski na Wawelu) description and photos - Poland: Krakow. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Zamek Krolewski na Wawelu.

Photo and description

The first princely palace on the Wawel Hill appeared in the X-XI centuries. On the initiative of Casimir the Great, who reigned in 1333-1370, a majestic royal castle in the Gothic style was erected here, from which the Kurya Lapka tower has survived. After a devastating fire in 1499, King Alexander and his brother Sigmund the Old undertook a thorough renovation of the castle in the Renaissance style. This is how a huge fortress-palace in the Italian style appeared, a typical fortified palazzo.

The inner courtyard of the castle is one of the best examples of the Italian Renaissance style on Polish soil. The courtyard is framed by a triple garland of galleries, rhythmically separated by a light construction of alternating supports, arches and balustrades. Each tier is of different heights, but the proportions are found very well. The slender columns of the first and second tier pass into semicircular arches of soft, flowing outlines in the spirit of the Renaissance. The unexpectedly thin columns of the third floor support a huge canopy. On the walls of the galleries, fragments of the 16th century painting have been preserved. These are portraits of Roman emperors in medallions, floral ornaments and decorative compositions on antique themes. The south side of the courtyard also has an arcade and is decorated with false windows.

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Topic: Wawel Castle (Zamek Krolewski na Wawelu) description and photos - Poland: Krakow.