Wawel Cathedral

24 th April 2014

Wawel Cathedral is the largest necropolis of royalties and national heroes in this part of Europe.

The first Cathedral was built on Wawel Hill in 1000. Later in 1038 the Cathedral was destroyed by Czech invasion. And in 1320, a large Gothic cathedral began to be built on the remnants of both Romanesque structures. New interior details were added during the centuries that followed - altars, sacrophags,epitaphs, reliefs monuments and portals.

But what makes this place unique and special is the existence of a royal necropolis ranked among the largest in the world. The firs ruler to have been buried here Wladyslaw the Elbow-High died in 1333. Almost all Polish monarchs were in Wawel. The Cathedral and its vaults contain the tombs of kings, queens, their children, national heroes, great poets and church dignitaries.

The Sigmund Bell located in the Cathedral which measures the pace of the most significant moments in the nation's and city's history.


The Sigmund Bell - deatils.

Diameter	2.42 m (8 ft)
- yoke length	3.08 m (10 ft)
Total height (incl. yoke)	4.60 m (15 ft)
- body and crown	2.41 m (8 ft)
- clapper length	2.20 m (7 ft)
Volume	1.2 m3 (42 cu ft)
Weight	12,600 kg (27,778 lb)
- body	9,650 kg (21,275 lb)
- clapper (with belt)	365 kg (805 lb)
- yoke	2,160 kg (4,762 lb)
- other parts	425 kg (937 lb)
Caster	Hans Behem
Materials	Bronze (80% copper, 20% tin),iron (clapper),leather (clapper belt),oak (yoke)
Cast	1520
- installed	13 July 1521
- new clapper	14 April 2001
Commissioned by	King Sigismund I of Poland
Musical note	F♯
Earshot	30 km (19 mi)
Number of ringers	12

2.42 m (8 ft)

 - yoke length

3.08 m (10 ft)

4.60 m (15 ft)

 - body and crown

2.41 m (8 ft)

 - clapper length

2.20 m (7 ft)

1.2 m³ (42 cu ft)

12,600 kg (27,778 lb)

 - body

9,650 kg (21,275 lb)

 - clapper (with belt)

365 kg (805 lb)

 - yoke

2,160 kg (4,762 lb)

 - other parts

425 kg (937 lb)

Hans Behem

Bronze (80% copper, 20% tin),iron (clapper),leather (clapper belt),oak (yoke)

1520

 - installed

13 July 1521

 - new clapper

14 April 2001

King Sigismund I of Poland

F♯

30 km (19 mi)

12

The Wawel Cathedral