The Dragon of Wawel

The Dragon of Wawel is a legendary creature from Polish folklore, famously associated with Kraków’s Wawel Hill. According to the legend, a fearsome dragon terrorized the city until a clever cobbler fed it a substance—such as sulfur—placed inside a lamb’s stomach. The dragon ate the bait and, upon drinking water from the Vistula River, it became so inflamed that it exploded. The story symbolizes Kraków’s historical strength and cunning, and the site features a dragon-shaped statue that breathes fire, celebrating this enduring myth that has become a key part of the city's cultural identity.