2. According to legend the Wawel Dragon or
Smok Wawelski resided beside the River
Vistula in a cave under Wawel Hill, upon
which can now be found the Royal Wawel
Castle and Wawel Cathedral in the city of
Kraków.
3. The city of Kraków dates from the 7th century and
according to legend was founded by Prince or King
Krak (Krakus or Grakch) of the Lechites who were
probably the first people to settle on Wawel Hill. The
story of the Smok Wawelski takes place during the
reign of King Krak and the dragon terrorised his
lands, destroying homes and crops as well as eating
livestock and killing his subjects.
4. Many, many years ago, when Krakow was still the capital of
Poland, there lived in the castle on the Wawel mountain
King Krak with his daughter Wanda. All the citizens in
Krakow loved their kind-hearted King and the loving
Wanda. For many years everyone lived peacefully and
provided for the well-being of their town. Amongst them
lived one of the cobbler's family, a capable and hard-
working apprentice by the name of Dratewka.
