Monuments & mounds
At the foot of Wawel Hill, along the Vistula boulevards, stands the bronze Wawel Dragon by Bronisław Chromy, placed on a huge boulder in 1970. Every few minutes the figure breathes real fire — the gas-fuelled flame can even be triggered by text message. It is one of the most photographed sculptures in Kraków and the easiest stop on any itinerary for families with children.
The sculpture refers to one of the best-known Polish legends: the dragon that laid waste to the lands around Wawel was outwitted by a clever shoemaker's apprentice, who set out a sheep stuffed with sulphur. Seeking relief, the monster drank so much water from the Vistula that it burst. The story has a physical address here — and the dragon, though defeated in the tale, turns its loss into a daily attraction by the river.
The dragon lies by the Vistula boulevards, a few minutes' walk from Wawel Hill, slotting naturally into a stroll between the Old Town and Kazimierz. Simply wait calmly for the moment of fire-breathing — or, if you don't feel like waiting, trigger the flame with a text message. The best shots come from the far bank of the river or from the footbridge above the boulevard. Right next to it, at the foot of the hill, you will also find the entrance to the Dragon's Den.
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