Krakus Mound

Why visit?

Krakus Mound — the oldest of Kraków's mounds and the only truly ancient one — rises on Lasota Hill (271 m a.s.l.) in the heart of Podgórze, on the right bank of the Vistula. It stands 16 metres tall with a base diameter of 57 metres, and according to Jan Długosz the sons of the legendary King Krak raised it over their father's grave. That is the legend — but what does the research say? In 1934–1937 the archaeologists Józef Żurowski and Franciszek Jakubik, funded by the Illustrated Daily Courier, tunnelled a shaft-and-cone excavation right down to the mound's base and exposed 60 percent of its footprint — and found no burial. Dating still divides scholars: the most popular hypothesis points to the turn of the 6th to 8th century, Andrzej Buko suggested the late 8th to mid-10th century, and other proposals include a Celtic tomb and even an astronomical observatory — on 2 May and 10 August the sun rises exactly over Wanda Mound. In the late 18th century there were at least 46 other kurgans on the Krzemionki hills; only Krakus has survived. From the flat summit stretches one of the finest panoramas of Kraków — from Wawel to the Kościuszko and Piłsudski mounds, and on clear days all the way to the Tatras. Practical tips: the walk from Podgórze Market Square takes 15 minutes, plus a few more to the top — the whole visit fits into 20–40 minutes. Every spring the folk festival of Rękawka with its fair takes place at the foot of the mound. The mound has been revitalised by the city — current access rules are published at krakow.pl.

What you’ll see

• Najstarszy kopiec Krakowa — prawdopodobnie z przełomu VI–X wieku
• Legenda o grobie króla Kraka i przekaz Jana Długosza
• Panorama Krakowa od Wawelu po Tatry
• Astronomiczna oś z Kopcem Wandy: wschód słońca 2 maja i 10 sierpnia
• Święto ludowe Rękawka u stóp kopca

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