The picturesque castles of Poland

Poland, one of the most budget-friendly places in Europe, is a country steeped in medieval castles and folklore, with royal palaces and parks where legends and pagan myths vie with wartime stories. Our tour of castles and palaces starts with a visit to Wawel Hill in Krakow, the ancient capital, and then to Warsaw, the current capital, where we stop at Wilanow Palace. And then onto the largest castle built in the world – the Malbork Castle.

Text and photos: LAKSHMI SHARATH

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We were cruising on the Vistula, Poland’s longest and most important river, when I saw the beautiful Wawel Castle, a landmark of the city of Krakow. Sitting pretty atop a limestone outcrop called Wawel Hill, this castle has seen the rise and fall of many a dynasty. The hill itself may be over 100 million years old and has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic Age. Today, it houses a mosaic of monuments including the 1,000-year-old cathedral and ... more
We were cruising on the Vistula, Poland’s longest and most important river, when I saw the beautiful Wawel Castle, a landmark of the city of Krakow. Sitting pretty atop a limestone outcrop called Wawel Hill, this castle has seen the rise and fall of many a dynasty. The hill itself may be over 100 million years old and has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic Age. Today, it houses a mosaic of monuments including the 1,000-year-old cathedral and the ancient castle. less