(Translator Google, Sorry)

Wawel Castle was the seat of the prince and the royal and political center of the Polish state from the eleventh to the sixteenth century. It was built on the left bank of the Vistula River south of the city invested . Wawel Hill is situated among the meadows flooded waters of the Vistula River and Ore superbly gave the defense establishment. The eastern part of the hill was built a little higher at the earliest , but the wood- earth fortifications covered the whole hill . The oldest building here is the rotunda of the Blessed Virgin Mary , to the south- west of it in 1968, discovered the relics of the church more or less the same as the rotunda of the period. First Wawel cathedral was founded in the mid- eleventh century north of the rotunda , wore a call St . Gereon . Rotunda can be seen at the exhibition " Wawel ", located in the walls of buildings podziemiachobecnych make a deep impression .
During this period there was a square building on the hill , now the place that is located in the north- west corner of the inner courtyard .
The 1,087 years began in the northern part of the hill climb called Hermanowska second chair . Probably in this period was erected a hall with 24 columns . In the eastern edge of the hill he was apparently also Gródek brick tower . On the remaining part of the hill were loose wooden buildings settlement . Also , there was a wooden castle destroyed by the Tatars in 1241 . Was located in the tower okolicydzisiejszej Thieves . After the invasion of the Tatars Konrad Mazowiecki erected fortifications combining the Cathedral of the rotunda releasing the open so far eastern part of the vast courtyard . In place of these defenses at the end of the thirteenth century the existing in fragments today defensive wall .
In the years 1250-1258 the expansion of the fortifications begun by Konrad continued Boleslaw the Chaste . Masonry fortifications erected in the north- eastern part of the hill .
In 1306 years , fire destroyed part of the buildings , built during the reconstruction of the south curtain wall jednotraktowy building , which became the new seat of the ruler . With the existing tower obronnejw the northeastern area of the hill stood residential tower called Łokietkową . In 1320 years on the walls of the Romanesque cathedral built nowągotycką Ladislaus the Short . The western part of the hill has consolidated itself as the seat of the clergy on the hill here in Kazimierz Wielki two new churches - St . George in 1346roku and St . Michael in 1355 - as well as residential buildings clergy.
Access to the walls of the attackers was significantly hampered by steep slopes , as long as the circuit has been reinforced embankments only three towers . From the Vistula - Thieves in the East - Danish, and from the north tower stood then called Sigismund . After the transfer of the Chapter was incorporated into the building of the cathedral and adapted to function as the bell tower.
In 1394 Wladyslaw Jagiello increased perimeter walls . Its also the initiative is to build Kurzej legs . Originally porch went further up the tower of function probably latrynowej . Sam Crow's leg served as mieszkalne.W this period strengthened the castle entrance from erecting towers and a porch .
The two highest towers erected Castle Casimir IV . Sandomierz Tower stood in 1462 rokuw the south-west corner of the hill , and the tower Senator northeast of Sandomierz - in the eastern part of the southern wall of defense . Both have a similar shape. Raised on a square basis of the above have rounded corners . Since there were too well designed in terms of defense for those times south wall of reinforced dodatkowobaszta Noble and was built in the sixteenth century two more towers - Maiden and Tęczyńską . With only remaining bastions of these relics of the foundations so you can not infer from this their appearance .
From 1502 years reign of Sigismund the Old medieval mansion began to rebuild a new renaissance . From this time comes from the present appearance of the castle . Also carried out work on strengthening the fortifications . Significant changes in the castle fortifications sięjednak lived only for Władysław IV in 1644-1646 year. Strengthening of earth arose from the south , and at the entrance gate was built polygonal bastion . Castle in the state found the Swedish army during the siege of Krakow.

In the years 1790-1794 were introduced large zmianyw system of fortifications rising from the Vistula brick bastions of earth embankments below the medieval castle walls . After the loss of independence, Kraków became part of the Austrian . Expansion of fortifications by the conqueror unfortunately associated with the demolition of many existing walls. Changing the castle barracks led to further devastation. Then destroyed much of the castle interiors .
The reconstruction was carried out in the years 1906-1939 under the leadership of Andrew Szyszko- Bohusz , while it been able to significantly increase awareness about the ancient history of the hills and buildings during archaeological excavations . During the Second World War the castle again seriously hurt. Until 1964 , however, it failed to restore . Placed in the castle museum and headquarters of the State Art Collection , caring also several other monuments and castles.