A birthday cake in a reconstructed medieval town, music, dancing and fun, all with the occasion of the birthday for the Wawel Dragon. The one-of-a-kind festival will take place on Sunday, August 14, in Błonia Park in Krakow. The celebration will start at noon and will last until 18.00.
50 years old sculpture!
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the sculpture of the Wawel Dragon by Bolesław Chromy. The 6-meter-high, fire-breathing dragon – the symbol of Krakow – can be seen every day at the foot of the Wawel Castle, it is one of the city’s greatest tourist attractions.
Did you know that he was supposed to be underwater?
According to the original concept, the dragon was to be partially submerged in the waters of the Vistula. However, it was found that the rubbish carried by the river current would settle on the sculpture. That is why, in 1972, it was placed in a block on the Vistula River, near Wawel Hill, next to the current exit from the Dragon’s Den. In the spring of 1973, a fire-breathing gas installation was installed inside the sculpture (by Feliks Prochownik).
New Expo! “Dragon Garden. Bronisław Chromy at Wawel”
On the occasion of the anniversary, the exhibition “Dragon Garden. Bronisław Chromy at Wawel” was opened in Wawel Castle in spring. Sculptures by the artist from Krakow can be seen at Wawel until the end of September this year.
Birthday Picnic 🙂
The highlight of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wawel Dragon will be a birthday picnic in the reconstructed early medieval settlement, which will be erected on Sunday in Krakow’s Błonia Park. The settlement will be built by the Team of Wisła Wojów “Krak”, the oldest in Krakow and one of the first groups of early medieval reconstruction in Poland.
“Composed of nearly 20 tents, sewn and erected according to the indications of iconographic sources, the town will be populated by teams of warriors, white-headed, craftsmen and musicians – in period costumes, equipped with weapons, tools, instruments and other attributes based on historical ones. There will also be a place for the prince. Krak – on that day he will accept applications, complaints and grievances from his subjects”– announces the magistrate.
What can you find in this settlement?
In the settlement, you will be able to stop at a blacksmith, potter, jeweller, mint maker, weaver and leatherman, and learn about the workshop and secrets of medieval craftsmen. There will also be an opportunity to try your hand at medieval plebeian games, such as spinning, twisted marches, sack races, Slavic wrestling or shoemaker and dragon games, and to compete for prizes. There will also be a skirmish between the dragon armies in the entertainment area.
There is also music!
There will also be music, the folk band “Daj Ognia” will be playing, and before the evening the final concert will be played on the main stage by Percival – a band that was created with a fascination with the history and culture of ancient Slavs and which successfully introduces the modern audience to the musical traditions of the former Slavic region.
For the competitive souls…
There will also be competitions, dance workshops, theatrical performances “The True Story of the Wawel Dragon”, and a dragon procession will pass through the main square of the settlement. And, as befits a birthday, there will be cake and dragon baked goods.
Timing
The dragon’s birthday will last from 12.00 to 18.00.
Saint Mary’s Basilica (Kosciol Mariacki) has always been a symbol of Krakow. A Symbol containing multiple other Krakow Symbols, like The wooden carved altar by Veit Stoss or the Bugle Call Tower with its Hejnal or The Legend of the 2 Brothers. After Tartar raids in the 13th century left the original church in ruins, St. Mary’s Church was rebuilt in Gothic style on the existing foundations and consecrated in 1320. In the early 15th century the towers took the iconic form they have today when the northern tower was raised to 80m high and made into a watchtower for the city. From that watchtower, the Bugle Call plays every day, every hour, no matter rain or shine!
How can one visit the Bugle Call Tower – Mariacki Church?
The Tower cannot be visited during all the months of the year, so make sure you don’t plan to visit it during wintertime as it is closed then. There is always a chance of frost on the stairs so only the Bugle Call player gets to go on top. But! During the summer months, it is always open for visitors and you can check the schedule below.
From July to October (except religious holidays) Monday — closed from Tuesdays to Saturdays 10.00 a.m.- 6.00 a.m. Sundays – 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
January, February, March, November, December — closed
The ticket price, as of July 2021 is 15 Zloty per person or 10 for 7 to 18 years olds.
Things you should know about the tour
Children up to 7 years old are not allowed to go – due to the steep steps (danger ahead!)
There is a limited amount of tickets everyday. You cannot book/buy tickets in adavnce. Just for the same day. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office only (Plac Mariacki 7).
Children between 7 and 18 years old get a discount.
People with walking dissabilities cannot get to the top as there is no elevator or method to pull up any wheelchairs 🙁 sorry for that 🙁
In case of bad weather the tour (just like the Eiffel Tower, in Paris) gets closed down.
The Tower entrance is located on the side of Mariacki Church, from Florianska Street.
A group of no more than 10 people can enter every 30 minutes.
Did you know?
That the Bugle Call (Hejnal) players are actually firemen? They stay there (up in the tower) on shifts that are 12 hours long! They need to “get to work” by climbing the 271 steps, every day, and they play the Hejnal every hour, for their 12-hour shift. Before the stairs were built, there was no way to get on top except with the help of a very tall ladder (wooden). Thank God they don’t use that anymore!
Yours always truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug that loves views from the top (of the world)
In June and July, shooting for the new Netflix production will be made in Krakow. ABM studio responsible for casting is looking for extras, episodists, and professional actors aged 50+. The production itself is shrouded in mystery.
Netflix is looking for extras in Krakow
“For 2 months of shooting, we will need a huge number of extras, episodists and professional actors, so if you are passionate about the industry, you want to experience your first adventure on a film set, or just treat it as a part-time job. We invite you to apply” – we read in the release ABM studies.
It is known that the film/series will be shot not only in Krakow. The ABM studio emphasizes that people who qualify for production will be able to continue the film adventure in the next part of the shooting at the Baltic Sea.
The implementation planned in Krakow is a film project of the Netflix platform. And this is what is known for sure. As the CEO of the ABM studio, Bartosz Stasina, informed us, the details of the project itself are classified as confidential.
Also, the Krakow Festival Office, the organizer of the Krakow Film Commission, whose main task is to help filmmakers working in Małopolska, does not want to reveal details. He mentions numerous “restrictions” regarding communication about Netflix’s projects.
Speculations about “Axis Mundi”
There was information in the media that it was about the series “Axis Mundi“, the plot of which is to be based on Slavic mythology and Krakow legends. The main character of the new Netflix series is a medical student – Alex. The girl becomes embroiled in an intrigue in which she will confront the world of Slavic beliefs. Magdalena Lankosz, Anna Sieńska and Gaja Grzegorzewska are responsible for the script of the series.
However, the director of the ABM studio denied the information that it was this production, moreover, the ABM studio is not involved in the production of “Axis Mundi“, and the shooting of the series has already ended.
So far, it is known that for the mysterious Netflix project, which will be created in Krakow, many extras, actors, and episodists aged 50+ are needed, and that the production will be created in the coming months.
Today I thought I might do something special with you: take you on a ride of 30 Typical Things One Could Do In Krakow 🙂 if ever you are in the area. These things are something that I do quite often, things that a local (a Cracovian) would do, things that you should also try (at least once) in order to feel the vibe of the city. So without further ado… here is the list:
1. Enjoy the view of the Barbakan (The Barbican) – the fortified outpost is a great spot to take many lovely pictures or just rest on a bench in the Planty area (the green park/circle around the Old Town). #DidYouKnow it is one of only 3 such fortified outposts still surviving in Europe? And it is also the best-preserved one!
2. Start the Royal Tour on the Royal Road that links the Barbakan – Brama Florianska (St. Florian’s Gate) – Florianska Street – Main Square to Grodzka – Wawel Castle. If you live in Krakow you probably lost count of how many times you want by foot on these cobble-stoned roads.
3. Enjoy the little entrances and pieces if unique architecture on the Florianska street – don’t just look at the shops (they will stay there for the next time you will pass through), but raise your eyes to the first floor or even above and see all the beautiful bits and pieces from the facade. These buildings have survived centuries and have so much to tell!
Vie of Mariacki Kosciol from the Underground Museum in Krakow, Poland
4. Make sure you get in front of the Mariacki Kosciol (St.Mary’s Church) a few minutes before the hour strikes and you listen to the Hejnal – it does have it is own legend 😉 so make sure to read it! When the trumpet stops paying, wave to the man in the tower – if he waves back it brings good luck!
5. Go inside the Mariacki Kosciol and listen to the ceremony. You might not understand it, but if you sit quietly and you pray, you might want to look up to the sky (that is… the ceiling). The ceiling is all blue, like the sky at dawn, and there are hundreds of sparkling stars on it. It was painted by the great Polish Painter: Jan Matejko.
Krakow’s Main Market Square and its pigeons
6. Do not feed the pigeons! Only the foreigners, the visitors do that, and it is something that is very much frowned upon nowadays. They are called “Flying rats” as they love to spread the diseases…
The view from Cafe Szal (Sukiennice) – Krakow, Poland
7. Get on the 1st floor of the Sukiennice (The Cloth Hall) – the entrance on the Mariacki Church side, close to the middle. Take the stairs/lift up to the 1st floor and enjoy a szarlotka (that is Polish for apple pie) at Cafe Szal. The view is AMAZING!
8. If you are at the Main Square at lunch, you need to drop by the Pod Sukiennice and have a traditional meal. Sundays the specialty of the house is rosol (that’s is Polish for chicken soup/broth with noodles).
They also have a mean Creme Brulee in Charlotte 😉 – Plac Szczepanski, Krakow, Poland
9. If you are around the Main square at breakfast time you can queue for something really nice at Charlotte, on Plac Szczepanski. The place does not take reservations and it is always full so you will have to stand in line… but they do have homemade goodies!
10. You should take a small detour to the Jagiellonian University quarters and listen to Gaudeamus Igitur and typical Polish song played by the clock inside the Collegium Maius courtyard. It plays at 11, 13, 15 o’clock each day. Not many know about it, it is a hidden gem. It is not like the Prague astronomy clock but still, it is worth your time 🙂
Hot chocolate at Nowa Prowincja – Krakow, Poland
11. If the weather outside is gloomy, raining, or freezing cold… I always like to head over to Nowa Prowincja. It has the best hot chocolate in town! They come with whipped cream and sour cherry alcohol inside!
12. Many locals also prefer the Pijalnia Czekolady Wedel when they wish for chocolate or they have a sweet tooth. You can order chocolate to go, or you can have it on the spot at the Main Market Square or in Galeria Krakowska.
13. As we are still on the topic of food, I believe it is worth mentioning one of the best homemade food places in Krakow: Babcia Malina (that is Polish for Grandmother Raspberry). There are 2 places: one on Slawkowska and one just in front of the Juliusz Slowacki Theater. You can always order take-away (we do that often…). They have the best deep-fried meat pierogi & the best zurek in town!
St. Peter and Paul’s Church, Grodzka – Krakow, Poland
14. Have a look at the only baroque church in Krakow: St. Peter and Paul’s Church (Sw. Piotr i Pawla) on Grodzka. The front always remained me of the Vatican DO let me know if you get the same vibe from it 🙂
15. Go visit the “Kings of Old” – The Wawel Cathedral holds the tombs of all the Kings and Queens of Poland. It is worth your while, just for the history lesson alone.
16. Go see the biggest bell in Krakow (probably of all Poland!): Sigismund Bell. It rings only on special occasions. The Bell used to ring when a King would die or when a new one would be coronated; it also did for the death of Pope John Paul the 2nd. It is said that if a young maiden touches it, then luck will come upon them and they shall be married within the year! The bell takes at least 4 grown men to start moving it…
A view of the Wawel Cathedral – Krakow, Poland
17. If it is summertime, take a stride in the inner garden and courtyard of the Wawel Castle. In springtime, when the magnolia blossoms, it is indeed a sight for sore eyes!
18. If you are a yoga/pilates enthusiast, you might like to know that one of the 7 chakra points in the world is located inside Wawel’s Castle inner courtyard. There are many people who come visit, lean against the wall, touch it, stroke it, and “get inspired”!
19. I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love museums. Every Sunday the Krakow National Museum branches are open for free. Mondays they are usually all closed down, resuming the activity fresh Tuesday morning. Visiting museums for free, on Sunday’s, is a very local thing 😉
The mummies at the Czartoryski Museum – Krakow, Poland
20. If you are in love with paintings, you should know that “The Lady With The Ermine” by Leonardo Da Vinci (his second most famous painting after the “Mona Lisa”) can be found at the National Museum in Krakow. And you can see it way more up-close-and-personal than the Smiling Mona. It is not crowded and miles away!
21. In love with history and especially ancient history? Then you should definitely drop by and check out the mummies (including one of a cat!) & read parts of The Book of Dead at the Czartoryski Museum.
22. A stroll along the Vistula River is always a very pleasurable thing to do. You can admire the sunset over the water and feed the swans or the seagulls.
23. Visit the KładkaOjca Bernatka – the “pedestrian bridge only” in Krakow. It also is named Love Locks Bridge as people tend to put locks and throw away the key (in the name of love). At nighttime it is very colourful and the artistic sculptures/installations make it even more attractive.
Vistula River & Kładka Ojca Bernatka- Krakow, Poland
24. Do go and pay your respects at the Plac Bohaterow Ghetta (The Square of The Heroes of the Ghetto). #DidYouKnow that each chair there signifies 1000 of people that were killed in the labor camps of Auschwitz and Plaszow? Do not sit on them – it is disrespectful!
25. If you enjoy StreetArt, Krakow has some amazing pieces to offer for the eye – most of them are in Old Town, Kazimierz, and Podgorze. Take the stroll along the Vistula River, as I have mentioned, and you will for sure see the floating pink pig on the waters… funny thing 😉
Kazimierz Mural – Krakow, Poland
26. A very local thing to do, when going out to part in Kazimierz, is to drop by and eat sausage from the communist blue van. Located in front of Hala Targowa, the van can be found during the weekends – it is hard to miss out on it, just follow the people queueing in! They may not be the best ones, but they are a 40+-year-old tradition. The place has been there since the 80s!
27. Partying in Kazimierz is a must, and the fast-food of choice is always the same: zapiekanka at Plac Nowy. That is kinda like a pizza… a baguette sliced in half – the long way – and with a lot of toppings. People say that Endzior makes the best, but I have found that others in Plac Nowy make great ones too. Also… when you are hammered… they all taste the same!
28. There are 4 mounds in Krakow – Polish people name them Kopiec.My favourites are Kopiec Koszciuski and Krakusa – pick one that you would like and make sure you get there before sunset. Sunset on Kopiec gets you a large view of the city and peaceful surroundings where you can enjoy the sun setting down – great photo opportunities also!
29. Enjoy one of the smaller movie theatres and forget those Multiplex, Multikino, Cinema City huge spaces. Go local and enjoy a more intimate space, smaller and different from the rest you can choose from Kino Ars, Kino Pod Baranami, Kino Agrafka, Kino Kijow… They show European selection of movies as well 😉 in Kino Pod Baranami I was even able to see Romanian movies with Polish subs!
Mushrooms hand-picked locally – Nowy Kleparz Market – Krakow, Poland
30. Shop locally – at least while in Poland, make sure you try out the local markets. Don’t go buying things from big chains (Carrefour, Auchan) but support the local economy by purchasing products from the local farmers. Make sure you have change though, as you cannot pay by card there. In Krakow, I recommend 2 markets very close to the Old Town: Stary Kleparz and Nowy Kleparz. In Kazmierz you can try Plac Nowy or Hala Targowa.
On the day Karol Kot celebrated his high school diploma, militia knocked on his apartment. All of Kraków could breathe a sigh of relief. The two-year-old nightmare has ended.
As Wikipedia points out, a serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more people, usually in service of abnormal psychological gratification, with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. While most authorities set a threshold of three murders, others extend it to four or lessen it to two.
Although psychological gratification is the usual motive for serial killing, and most serial killings involve sexual contact with the victim, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) states that the motives of serial killers can include anger, thrill-seeking, financial gain, and attention-seeking. The murders may be attempted or completed in a similar fashion. The victims may have something in common, for example, demographic profile, appearance, gender, or race. A serial killer is neither a mass murderer nor a spree killer, although there may be conceptual overlaps between serial killers and spree killers.
A Youtube video of the history of Karol Kot and his murders – by Discovery Channel – (in Polish language) – Poland
Who was Karol Kot?
Karol Kot (18 December 1946 – 16 May 1968) was a Polish serial killer who terrorized the city of Kraków. Kraków was the city he was born and raised in, until his capture in June 1966. Due to trial evidence and to the seemingly random choices of victims, which included children and elderly people, Kot was nicknamed the “Vampire of Kraków”. After the trial, in which Kot pleaded guilty to all the crimes he was charged, he was sentenced to death on 14 July 1967. After an appeal, the death penalty was reinstated and carried out on 16 May 1968 when Kot was 21 years old.
Karol’s background
Karol Kot, popularly known as “Lolo”, attended the Technical High School in Krakow at Loretańska Street. He came from an intellectual family, his father was an engineer, his mother was a housewife and a social activist. Karol was a member of the National Defense League, the Socialist Youth Union and the Citizens’ Militia Volunteer Reserve.
Karol Kot – “Vampire of Kraków”
There were signs…
When Karol Kot was caught, through further investigation, it turned out that as a high school graduate he was enjoying the abuse of animals. In his cruel aspirations he killed birds, moles or calves. During one of the holidays, he assisted with slaughter at the slaughterhouse. As he mentioned, he loved to drink warm blood.
My parents went on vacation to Pcimia (it’s a hole near Myślenice). It was boring, so I went to the slaughterhouse there and assisted in killing calves. I liked this view and finally tasted warm blood.
Karol Kot – “Vampire of Kraków”
In an interview given later, he said directly that he was killing for pleasure and that if he could, he would kill all the women in the world. He also betrayed his unfulfilled fantasies of orgy, which he wanted to have with his classmates, which were to be tortured. Here is what he told about his interests:
One of my dreams came true, I wanted and I was an executioner of people, although I was thinking about a bigger slaughter, a real big crematorium. If there was a war, I would like to be the head of a concentration camp, cut off the breasts of women and put them under the helmets of soldiers, so that they do not oppress their heads. I dreamed of mass murders in gas chambers, round-ups, quartering people. I wanted to kill all the women, except maybe two – my sister and cousin. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it. I don’t know who lost it.
Karol Kot – “Vampire of Kraków”
Karol Kot – “Vampire of Kraków” – Mug shot
Kraków of the mid-1960s was filled with horror, paralyzed by fear
In the mid-1960s, the inhabitants of Kraków were paralyzed with fear. In particular, older people of Kraków began to be afraid of leaving their homes, fearing a killer attack. Terrified residents began to speculate who might be responsible for the terrible crimes. The beginning of the long chain of fear lasting two years was the event of September 1964, when a stabbed woman was brought to the Kraków hospital.
“Do you know that the easiest way to the heart is through the back?”
Karol Kot – “Vampire of Kraków” – final interview
Quote (Polish Language) from Karol Kot – Poland
The First Victim
September 21st, 1964 – as he later said, something urged him to kill. Karol took two knives with him and went to the city. He concluded that it would be easiest for him to kill some lonely woman praying in church. First he went to the Capuchin church, but he did not find a faithful fit for a potential sacrifice. Then he went to the church of the Monastery of Sercanki at Garncarska St. He waited a long moment before the opportunity arose. 48-year-old Helena W. came to the church, and when she knelt down, “Lolo” pulled out a knife and pushed her in the back. Drunk, he escaped and licked blood at one of the nearby gates. He did not know that the blow he inflicted was not serious and the victim survived.
The murder of a 11 year old boy – Leszek – at Kosciuszko Mound, by Karol Kot
Karol Kot confessed to all his crimes and many more…
In the summer of 1966, the Civic Militia knocked on the door of Kot’s state and he was caught (much to Kot’s surprise, who did not know he has under surveillance for several weeks).
During the interrogations, Kot confessed not only to the two murders and four attempted murders but also to poison and arson attempts. It turned out that he tried to deprive people of life not only with a knife but also by adding sodium arsenate to various liquids. For example, in a bar “Przy Błoniach” he poured the poison into a bottle of vinegar, but he deeply regretted that no one had poisoned himself. He also tried to leave poisoned orangeade and beer in different places.
Karol Kot – “Vampire of Kraków” – in front of the Court
The Death Sentence
Experts for a long time could not judge whether Karol Kot is mentally ill or not. Some of them were of the opinion that he was a psychopath and should be directed to involuntary isolation treatment. He underwent a battery of psychological tests. The prosecutors amassed 8,000 pages of evidence in 18 volumes.
The prosecutor, however, did not accede to these opinions and in the indictment, he presented “Lola” as a healthy person, and only to the bone marrow immoral. Despite the defenders’ position, the accused also tried to present himself as a read and aware person of his actions.
The court did not believe the defenders and sentenced Karol Kot to death. As a result of his appeal, the second instance court turned him into life imprisonment, but as a result of the prosecutor’s intervention, he was again sentenced to death. The sentence, by hanging, was carried out on May 16, 1968.
“Soon, where I’m going, I’ll meet with my victims, and we can speak. Here on Earth, I have no one to talk to.”
Karol Kot – “Vampire of Kraków” – final interview
Karol Kot – “Vampire of Kraków” – front cover for Nasza Historia (Our History) Magazine
The… Aftermath?
The autopsy of the corpse, after Karol Kot’s execution, revealed a massive tumor in his brain. It is nowadays widely known and accepted that brain tumors can completely change one’s personality – their thoughts and desires. It may have been bad luck and lack of diagnosis, making his brain tumor grow, and pushing him into doing these unthinkable things… or it might have been just his nature to kill – we will never know…
P.S. You can find more about Macabre Krakow and Karol Kot’s story also by joining in the Macabre Krakow: Free Walking Tour – I sincerely and wholeheartedly recommend it! 🙂
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug, Bringing You Scary Stories About Krakow
The Krakow Bugle Call (Hejnal) – July 2020 – Poland
The Bugle Call
On top of St. Mary’s Church (PL: Mariacki Kosciol), in the highest of the 2 frontal towers, a trumpet call can be heard everyday, around the clock, at the hour-sharp. No matter the weather, time of day, the song is heard – the traditional tune is known by all Poles (children or grown-ups alike).
Every hour sharp
Based on 5 notes in the F-major scale, The Bugle Call from St.Mary’s is a song everyone knows and stops to listen (and wave at the person playing… supposedly that brings good luck if he waves back!). Its history is deeply embedded in the hearts of the people of Krakow especially. Even the historian Norman Davies described it in its “Europe: A History” book (1996): “The hejnał Mariacki or ‘trumpet-call of St Mary’s’ is one of the many curiosities of old Cracow. It is sounded from the top of the tower of the ancient church which overlooks the city square. It is sounded on the hour, every hour of the day and night, winter and summer; and each time it is repeated four times: to north, south, east and west.“
The Mariacki Church – view from Florianska street – Krakow, Poland
The Legend – The Bugle Call & The Tatar Arrow
Originally, back in the Middle Ages, the bugle call was played at dawn and dusk to tell the gatekeepers of the city to open/shut the city gates(eg. the direction the bugle plays can be heard along the Florianska street, up to Brama Florianska and the Barbakan – where the main entrance to the city was located). It was also used as a warning signal when there was a fire in the city or when enemy forces were approaching. The tower offered a 360 degree view of the city and they could quickly notify the inhabitants of the danger approaching – being played in the 4 cardinal directions.
The first mention of the bugle call being heard hourly, around the clock, comes from the mid 15th century. The story of the broken song comes from the Tatar invasion of Poland in 1241. Standing on guard, the bugle player warned the inhabitants of Krakow about the approaching enemy troops and he sounded the alarm. Unfortunately, tragedy hit, when an arrow of the Tatar enemy reached his throat and killed the guard and ended the melody mid-way. To commemorate his bravery and the fact that he saved the city, the song was played every hour, but it would stop just when he stopped that fatidic day…
The Hejnal – Twisted Red LadyBug
The Legacy
The earliest mention of it can be found in the city of Kraków’s expense records. In 1392, the city was paying a trumpeter in St Mary’s Church Tower the sum of 1/2 a grosz weekly.
The first trumpeter in the tower known by name was Iwan Mikulski, who appears in the city records for the year 1629. Another trumpet player that one should take notice of is Antoni Dołęga, who on the 3rd of July 1901 – 9 PM, played the melody 3 out of the 4 times before dying (heart condition). By the way, back then they could not come inside by way of the inner stairs (there were none!) but they had to come from outside, through very tall ladders…
The Mariacki Church and the Bugle Tower – view from Adam Mickiewicz Stature, Main Market Square Krakow, Poland – July 2020
How to be a Bugle Boy/Girl?
Today, there are 272 steps that lead you to the top where the Bugle Call is played and you can actually get to visit and see the person on guard play live! It is said that the regular trumpeters that stay on shift regularly take only 3 minutes to climb them! Nowadays, also the trumpeter not only has to be a good musician, but they also have to be a fireman as well – they are subjected to physical and psychological tests. If you, as a civilian, would like to do that, one would have to take a 177 days long training course at the Fireman School.
But note down that a trumpeter actually works 24 hours straight! (after which he has a 2 day break). The trumpeter plays the call on the hour from 8 until 7 the next day!
DID YOU KNOW – The Hejnal…
The Grammy-winning American smooth jazz trumpeter Chris Botti performed the ancient tune in 2015, while on tour in Poland
The first woman to play the Bugle Call was Anna Kula, a student at the Academy of Music in Kraków, when she played on New Year’s Eve in 1993
During the Second World War, a bugler from the 2nd Polish Corps played the tune to announce the Polish victory in the Battle of Monte Cassino on 18 May 1944
The longest-serving trumpeter was Adolf Śmietana, who played the Hejnał for 36 years beginning in 1926. The Kołton family has played the Hejnał for three consecutive generations. In October 2004, Jan Kołton retired after 33 years of service at the tower. His father had been a Hejnał bugler for 35 years previously, while his son is one of the four current buglers.
Yours sincerely, The Twisted Red LadyBug that loves Kraków and it’s legends and stories
If you ever been to Krakow Main Market Square than for sure you have seen the committee of pigeons tapping about the place, searching for food from the willing tourists and locals. Pigeons in Krakow arouse 2 contrasting emotions in people: they either love them, take photos of them and feed them OR they release great negative emotions and people just want to see them disappear.
I believe it is especially hard for people living in the areas where they flock often, like the Main Market Square (Rynek) in Krakow. For the people that are also balcony owners, they are a nuisance and they certainly do not arouse any sympathy when they poop around the place… Of course, the people and the City of Krakow have tried to limit the damage by placing in spikes but they have grown accustomed to that as well!
Krakow Florist on the Main Market Square, Krakow, Poland – Photo from the 1960s – Source: NAC (National Digital Archives)
Krakow Pigeons = Local Attraction
You can see them popping their head from the postcards and you can see and hear them on any video taken in the Main Square. They are inevitable! They can even be considered an attraction for the kids – as they always love feeding them and running around them, trying to catch them. I know my Little LadyBug Baby Girl loves chasing them about!
For a certain amount of time, during communist times even, food for them could be bought right next to the florists that were on the Rynek. Now the feeding of the pigeons is discouraged but there are some men that wander around, selling small dosages for the kids to buy and feed the birds.
Pigeons In Krakow, Poland – Picture taken by yours truly, but I do not recall the date
The Legend of Krakow Pigeons
You might not know, but the Krakow Legend says that these pigeons are actually knights! The legend was told by prof. Michał Rożek in the recommendable “Silva Rerum“. At the end of the 13th century, Prince Henry IV of the Right (Henryk IV Prawy) sought to unite Polish lands, which were then divided into districts. To do this he needed to be crowned. Coronation, in turn, required payment of the emperor or pope, and these were not cheap things. The prince had no money, so he borrowed it from the witch from Zwierzyniec. This decided on a rather unusual pledge.
Henryk’s courtiers and knights, whom she changed into pigeons, became security for his pledge. She promised that she would restore them to their former form when the king would return from Rome and repay the debt. However, during the expedition, he went and drank everything he borrowed. Henryk returned to Kraków, but he did not pay the debt. The courtiers and knights remained pigeons. And they are with us to this day, poor things…
Main Market Square, Krakow, Poland – July 2020
How about you? Have you ever been to Krakow and fed the knights? 🙂
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug That Loves Krakow Legends
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