Meandering to the Castle, Krakow

Last full day in Krakow and it is a beauty.  We are off to the Wawel Castle and Cathedral.

A gorgeous view as we stroll past an outdoor cafe.

Quiet in the Main Market Square.  That is the Town Hall Tower with the flag colours of Poland hanging at least three stories down.

During the day or night, the Cloth Hall is incredible.

Saints Peter and Paul Church, a 16th century Roman Catholic church.

Gorgeous spires dot the horizon.

And there it is.  The Wawel Castle.

It was built in the 13th or 14th century.

When Germany occupied Poland they set up headquarters here and hung the Nazi flag.

For centuries it was the residence of Poland's royalty.

It is quite the hike up to the top....but the rewards are.......

the spectacular views.

We come to the very top and we find the Wawel Cathdral.  It has been here for 900 years.

No photos are allowed inside but I did take a few outside.

This church is very important to the people of Poland.  Nearly all of the most important historical people in Poland's history are in the tombs below.

The other claim to fame for this cathedral is one of it's own.

Karol Wojtyla better known to most as Pope John Paul II, offered his first mass as priest here in this cathedral.  And in 1958 he was ordained as an Krakow's Auxiliary Bishop also in this cathedral.

Some Polish people had hoped he would be buried in the Wawel Cathedral, but he is in fact buried under the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy.

Heading back to the town centre.

These fur hats are all the rage in Europe right now....just saying.

I actually knit one last year for myself....I might need to take it to Montreal.

Lunch time....I'm starving.

Where's the pierogis.