Wawel Dragon Statue

The dragon was originally meant to lie in the Vistula, partly submerged in the current. The idea was dropped when it became clear that rubbish carried by the river would pile up on the sculpture. So Bronisław Chromy's bronze Wawel Dragon was placed in 1972 on a limestone boulder at the foot of Wawel Hill, next to the exit of the Dragon's Den — and since spring 1973 it has been breathing real fire. It is one of Kraków's best-known sights and a favourite stop for families with children.

A sculpture that breathes fire

The figure was designed by Kraków sculptor Bronisław Chromy; it was finished in 1969 but unveiled in its present spot only three years later. The dragon is about 6 m tall and stands on a large limestone block that forms part of the composition. The gas and electrical system that makes flames shoot from its mouth was designed and built by Feliks Prochownik. It runs on natural gas, and the fire appears every few minutes.

Fire by text message

Since a modernisation, you can trigger the flames by sending a text message — according to published descriptions, no more often than about every 15 seconds, and the service is hugely popular. Without texts, the dragon breathes fire at regular intervals. It is a good way to spare children a long wait in the crowd; check the current number and rules on the sign next to the statue.

Two versions of the legend

The oldest version of the Wawel dragon story was written down in the 12th century by the chronicler Wincenty Kadłubek. In his account the monster is defeated by two sons of King Krak, one of whom then kills his brother to claim the victory. The more popular, later version has a cobbler as its hero — in some tellings named Skuba — who tricked the dragon into eating a sheep stuffed with sulphur. Trying to quench its thirst, the monster drank from the Vistula until it burst. Chromy's sculpture refers to this second story.

The Dragon's Den next door

Right next to the statue is the exit of the Dragon's Den (Smocza Jama), a limestone cave beneath Wawel Hill that legend names as the monster's lair. You enter the cave from the hill and come out directly onto the riverside promenade, a few metres from the dragon.

What to look for

• The limestone boulder the dragon stands on — part of the artwork, not a random rock.
• The moment of fire: the flame lasts only a few seconds, so keep your camera ready.
• The exit of the Dragon's Den right next to it, where cave visitors emerge.

Tripto tip

The dragon stands on the Czerwieński Boulevard, at the foot of Wawel on the river side. The stop itself takes 10–15 minutes, but it is best combined with a visit to Wawel Hill and a walk down through the Dragon's Den, which is open seasonally. The best photos with fire are taken at dusk, and from the opposite bank of the Vistula, where you can frame the dragon together with the castle. On summer afternoons it gets crowded around the statue, so with children it is better to come in the morning.