Krakow has the unique history of having a trumpeter play every hour on the hour for the past 600 years. The legend has it that at one time when the Tartars were invading, the city watch in the tower of St. Mary's Bascilica saw them approaching and sounded the warning, playing over and over until his tune was cut off in the middle when he was shot by an enemy's arrow.
Delaney and I climbed the steep steps up to the top of the tower and got to hear him play from the tower window!
239 steps to the top (only half as many as the Bascilica in Rome), but not for the faint hearted.
If you look closely, you can see the open window just under the ornate grey roof. This is were we took the pictures of the square, and where the trumpeter played.
Wawel Castle
Main square
I really enjoyed reading your blog :D
ReplyDeleteGreetingf from the UK
I am not sure, if you're aware, that your blog made it to the main page of wykop.pl (similar to digg.com), it will propably influence the visitors' counter a litlle bit. Thanks for a great blog, it's very interesting to see these places from your perspective, especially for me being a Lublin native studying in Kraków. Can't wait for the next post!
ReplyDeleteIt's very funny and learning to see Poland by Your eyes. Great blog :)
ReplyDeleteA 2nd part of the legend behind trumpet call:
ReplyDeletelocal elders in Samarkand asked General Anders to borrow his trumpeters, which then were asked to play the trumpet call played in their capitol from tower. Soldiers figured out they meant the trumpet call from St. Mary's Basilica's tower, but no one explained why they were asked to play it.
It occurred it was the tribe that attacked Cracov centuries ago. Their tribe was said to be cursed cause of attacking when the city was called for prayer (in their culture such call from tower calls for a prayer) and the curse was to be reversed not sooner than when the trumpet call will be played in Samarkand.
I'd really enjoyed your blog. You describe my country from other perspective, great experience for me:) Greeting from Krakow!
ReplyDelete