Our final day in Kraków was seeing some interesting things we didn’t get a chance to see yet. Luckily the weather improved and we had excellent conditions, since the weather in Poland can be somewhat unpredictable.

Kraków

A medium sized city that is very well planned and maintained. Whoever is running the town is doing an excellent job, from the university integration, the city park that almost surrounds the town, its cleanliness, to all of the museums and attractions that are available to visitors. It has become one of our favorite places to visit.

Wawel Royal Castle

A large complex to the south of town that forms that last part of the park that surrounds the city. The Wawel Royal Castle is perched on a small hill, Wawel Hill, that has a commanding view of the Vistula River and the surrounding countryside.

The castle has a multitude of museums and attractions to see inside and any visitor may purchase entry to any of them either à la carte, or by pre-priced packages. For our visit we chose the à la carte method, since we only wanted to see the Second Floor Museum, the Danish Tower Museum and the Dragon’s Den.

Courtyard – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Second Floor Museum

Unlike the First Floor Museum, this museum has artwork, tapestries and other artifacts of artistic worth.

Virgin and Child – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Old Ceramic Stove – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Ceiling – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Biblical Scenes – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Tapestries – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Plate Collection – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Armchair 16/17th century – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Men fighting bronze – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Istoriato Maiolica ceramic – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Busts – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Tapestry in Throne room – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Mosaic in Throne room – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Interesting Painting – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

More Paintings – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Painting – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Fireplace – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Old Italian Cabinet – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Ebony cabinet with rosewood – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Birchwood Cabinet – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Portrait King Sigismund III – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Eagle Room – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Even the rooms are of some interest. The rather large Senators Room being clad in a treated gilded leather.

Senators’ Hall – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Gilt Leather wall covering – Senators’ Hall – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Ottoman Tent Exhibit

At the end of the Second Floor Museum was a fascinating exhibit on tents from the Ottoman Dynasty. Most of these were captured during the battles with them during the First World War and used by the counterparts during those campaigns.

Turkish Ottoman Tent Selection – Second Floor Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Danish Tower Museum

Here you can learn a little more of the types of wares that were made and traded in the area. From childrens clay toys to pipes, the bottom parts of the tower holds a museum full of old crafts.

Courtyard – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Apothecary Display – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Coins – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Inkwells, compass – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Small jars and pipes – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Pipes – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Toys and Child Shoes – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Pipe and Clay Piggy – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Clay Piggybank – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Then after you are done enjoying all the exhibits the tower offers a nice view of the Vistula, the rest of the castle and surrounding area.

City Overview – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Old Tower – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Roof – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Courtyard – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Tower – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Towers part of the castle – Danish Tower Museum – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Dragon’s Den

A must stop for kids and others interested in the myth and legend of the dragon of Wawel Castle, the Dragon’s Den cave offers a cooling respite along with some fun.

Entrance – Dragon’s Den – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Cave – Dragon’s Den – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Exit – Dragon’s Den – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

Patti – Dragon’s Den – Wawel Royal Castle – Kraków, Poland

There is even a media representation of Smok Wawelski lurking within the cave, which should motivate most young visitors to leave.

Kraków_51_WawelRoyalCastle_22_DragonsDen_15

Kraków_51_WawelRoyalCastle_22_DragonsDen_16

Kraków_51_WawelRoyalCastle_22_DragonsDen_17

Town Hall Tower

The Town Hall Tower off on one corner of the great plaza in town is also open to scale for a price. There are two or three floors seperated by very narrow stairs that must be negotiated with people going in both directions.

Town Hall and Tower Bronze – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

First Level – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

Entrance and Stairs – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

Stairs – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

However, aside from the few exhibits that are contained on each floor, the top is not open and you must take photographs through plexi-glass. I found the most interesting thing there to be the clock mechanism.

Second Level – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

House of Vasa – Second Level – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

Wawel Castle – Top Level – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

Old Iron Door – Top Level – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

Going Down – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

Narrow Stairwell – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

Timepiece – Top Level – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

Clockworks and Timepiece – Top Level – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

Clockworks and Old Bell Striker – Top Level – Town Hall Tower – Kraków, Poland

Churches And Cathedrals

Saint Mary’s Basilica

Unfortunately for us we visited on Sunday, so mass was being held and we had limited access to Saint Mary’s Basilica. Though the nave was somewhat interesting, it was clearly not the most beautiful nor the most interesting Catholic church we have visited in Poland.

Nave and Altar – Saint Mary’s Basilica – Kraków, Poland

Side Altar – Saint Mary’s Basilica – Kraków, Poland

Bronze Memorial – Saint Mary’s Basilica – Kraków, Poland

muWi Stained Glass Museum

Entrance – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

For those that have extra time on their hands, the muWi Stained Glass Museum is a great way to spend an hour. Here you will learn how this old establishment designs, cuts, paints, arranges and solders together amazing stained glass windows.

Glass Cutting and Colors – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Inventory – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Awards – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Patterns and Cutting Glass – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Cut Glass – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Patterns and Templates – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Example Designs – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Religious Motifs – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Works in Progress – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Hallway – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Overview of Shop – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

There is also a great history lesson regarding some of the designers and accomplished artists who have worked here as well. The second part of the tour takes you upstairs where the works are given their finishing touches and fired each night.

Painting and Patina Application – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Painting Results – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Old Lost Work Found Again – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Color Palet – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Kiln – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Finally, there are displays of work that have either been refound in the cellar, or recreated from old designs. All of these were from two of their most famous designers and stained glass makers.

Stefan Matejko 50th Anniversary – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Stefan Matejko Design – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Stanislav Wyspianski Design – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Apollo in the Making with the Planets – Stanislav Wyspianski Design – muWi Stained Glass Museum – Kraków, Poland

Restaurants

One last thought on restaurants in Kraków and Poland in general. At this writing we consider them just as exspensive as in the States. Yes, there are certainly some places you can go and things you can order to minimize your food exspenses, but you can do that in the States as well. One additional comment, few restaurants allow or enable their guests to add a tip to the check. So, if you want to leave one, you should have cash on you. In most cases, since we are coming from Italy where it is not done except in tourist areas, we don’t leave one, though that is probably not the generally accepted behavior.

Gospoda Koko

This restaurant was a surprise find. Gospoda Koka is a rather off-beat establishment that actually had good food and service that we thoroughly enjoyed for lunch. They have very good soups and their Polish Cabbage Side Salad for only 7 Zloty(under $2) is highly recommended.

Inside – Gospoda Koko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Today’s Menu – Gospoda Koko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Patti Inside – Gospoda Koko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Chicken Noodle Soup – Gospoda Koko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Patti’s Soup – Gospoda Koko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Morskie Oko

Another visit to Morskie Oko for lunch this time gave us the opportunity to try other fare. Patti tried the Stuffed Cabbage while I ordered the Pork Shank with Potatoes.

Decor – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Pork Shank and Potatoes, Cabbage Salad and Galumpki – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Sour Cherry Vodka Liqueur – Morskie Oko Restaurant – Kraków, Poland

Nasza Rzeka Bar

A converted boat on the Vistula, the Nasza Rzeka Bar is an excellent choice for a noon time drink, especially during good weather. The upper deck is a perfect place to enjoy the view of the river and recharge.

Kraków, Poland – Part Three