The Legend of the Dragon, Kraków: history and visit

The legend of the dragon, in Krakow

The Wawel dragon is one of the most famous legends of Krakow, embodied by a fire-breathing statue at the foot of the hill. The Krakow audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this founding myth, become an amusing and beloved symbol of the town.

The fire-breathing dragon of Wawel

At the foot of the Wawel hill stands a fire-breathing dragon, which does not fail to surprise passers-by: every few minutes, the bronze statue starts to breathe real flames, to the great delight of the visitors. This dragon embodies one of the most famous legends of Krakow. According to the story, a terrible dragon once lived in a cave under the Wawel hill and terrorised the town, devouring the cattle and the inhabitants. A cunning young shoemaker would have finally defeated it by making it swallow a lamb stuffed with sulphur, which made it so thirsty that it drank until it burst. This founding myth, deeply rooted in the imagination of the town, makes the dragon an amusing and beloved symbol of Krakow.

What to see

You admire the bronze statue of the Wawel dragon, which breathes real flames every few minutes, at the foot of the hill, embodying the famous legend of the dragon defeated by a cunning young shoemaker. The dragon is an amusing and beloved symbol of Krakow. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The statue of the dragon lies at the foot of the Wawel hill, by the Vistula, in Krakow, reachable on foot. It is an open-air work, freely visible from the public space; it breathes flames at regular intervals. You discover it during a walk at the foot of Wawel.

What is the legend of the Wawel dragon in Krakow?

A terrible dragon once lived in a cave under the Wawel hill and terrorised the town; a cunning young shoemaker would have defeated it by making it swallow a lamb stuffed with sulphur, making it so thirsty that it drank until it burst.