Wawel Royal Castle

Wawel Royal Castle, in Krakow, was the historic residence of the Kings of Poland for centuries and is one of the largest castles in the country, sited on Wawel Hill above the Vistula River alongside Wawel Cathedral, the traditional coronation and burial site of Polish monarchs. The castle was constructed and rebuilt over several centuries in Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles, with its present Renaissance courtyard largely dating to rebuilding after a fire in the early sixteenth century under King Sigismund I. It now operates as a museum housing state rooms, an armory and royal collections.