Wawel Dragon facts for kids
The Wawel Dragon is a famous monster from a Polish folktale. This scary dragon lived in a cave right under Wawel Hill. This hill is next to the Vistula River in the city of Kraków, Poland. Today, you can find the Wawel Cathedral and Kraków's castle on top of Wawel Hill. There's even a statue of the dragon inside the cathedral! The dragon's old cave under the castle is now a popular place for tourists to visit.
The Dragon's Story
There are many different versions of the Wawel Dragon story. Here is one of the most popular tales:
A very long time ago, Prince Krak was the ruler of Kraków. But people in the city were worried because many young girls kept disappearing. No one knew what was happening to them. Soon, everyone discovered that an evil dragon was living in a huge cave under Wawel Hill. This dragon was not only taking young girls but also stealing farm animals.
Prince Krak made a big announcement: "The person who can defeat this dragon will receive half of my kingdom! They will also get to marry my daughter." Many brave soldiers tried to fight the dragon, but none of them succeeded. The dragon was too strong and too clever.
Finally, a young shoemaker had a brilliant idea! He took a sheep's skin and filled it with a lot of salt. Then, he quietly left it right in front of the dragon's cave. The dragon was very greedy. When it saw the salty sheep, it ate the whole thing in one bite!
Soon after, the dragon started to feel a terrible burning pain in its stomach. The pain grew worse and worse. It felt like fire inside! The dragon desperately needed water. It ran to the Vistula River and began to drink very, very fast. It drank and drank, but the burning feeling wouldn't stop. So, it kept drinking more and more water, until suddenly, it burst!
The city of Kraków was finally free from the mean dragon. The clever shoemaker received his reward from the ruler and married the prince's daughter, just as promised.
Wawel Dragon Sculpture
In 1970, a special statue of the Wawel Dragon was placed right in front of the dragon's old den. This statue is quite unique! It has six legs, and every few minutes, it actually breathes real fire! It's a fun sight for visitors to Kraków.
Images for kids
-
The dragon's cave
-
Wawel Dragon sculpture by Bronisław Chromy
See also
In Spanish: Dragón de Wawel para niños
