The Wawel Dragon (Smok Wawelski)
According to legend the Wawel Dragon or Smok Wawelski resided beside the River Vistula in a
cave under Wawel Hill, upon which can now be found the Royal Wawel Castle and Wawel
Cathedral in the city of Kraków.
The city of...
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The Wawel Dragon (Smok Wawelski)
According to legend the Wawel Dragon or Smok Wawelski resided beside the River Vistula in a
cave under Wawel Hill, upon which can now be found the Royal Wawel Castle and Wawel
Cathedral in the city of Kraków.
The city of Kraków dates from the 7th century and according to legend was founded by Prince
or King Krak (Krakus or Grakch) of the Lechites who were probably the first people to settle on
Wawel Hill. The story of the Smok Wawelski takes place during the reign of King Krak and the
dragon terrorised his lands, destroying homes and crops as well as eating livestock and killing
his subjects.
After the King’s nights failed to stop the destruction it was discovered that the dragon had a
taste for young maidens and the townsfolk found they could appease Smok Wawelski by
offering a young girl to him each day, tied in front of his cave’s mouth. Therefore the dragon
would eat the girl and the surrounding countryside would be spared for a day.
In some version
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