St. Mary's Church, Krakow

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This is considered one of the finest churches in Poland.
It is an interesting building and if you look at the pic you will see why. It is a miscelaneous structure, with two towers of different height and style.
In fact the tallest one was added only in the 15th century, hence the mismatch.

And the wonderful legend associated to it... Ok, legend is that during a Tartar raid into the city, the watchman at the top of the tower played his trumpet to warn of the invasion with such a bad luck that his call was cut by a Tartar arrow shout through his throat, and even today, the trumpet warning is played at every hour, abruptly stopping at the point at which the unfortunate trumpeteer was interrupted, during that raid, long, long time ago.

Very good story... So good that the trumpet call or Hejnal is also broadcasted live by Polish radio daily at noon. So we remember...

This is the only remainder of the old City Hall, dating back from the 14th century and destroyed in the 19th c.
The tower is currently a museum of the history of the Square.

It is a funny sight, with a Gothic body and a Baroque cupola but it adds to its interest I suppose.

It opens from May to September only, be aware and times are 10 am to 5pm on Wed to Fri and 10 am to 4 pm on Sundays but check before going if you intend to visit the museum.

Every hour the bugler plays from the tower in the square. Or, to be more specific, the tower with the really complicated bit at the top (since there are three towers in the square).

It's nice to listen to and to read the story in the guide book.

It's also very hard to spot where he plays from - look for a window opening just before he plays...

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St Mary's church domiantes Krakow skyline. Where ever you are in the city look out for the spiers and you know where the old town is. It is a huge red brick building with two distinct towers which are of different height. Legend has it that two brothers were employed to oversee the building work. The younger more confident started to build a tower quickly while his elder brorther was slower and more cautious. As the younger brothers tower grew higher and less stable he was forced to make it thinner and thinner, hence the differences in the towers.

St Mary's also boasts a legendary buglar, who ever hour on the hour performs the hejnal, a 600 year old tradition. Legend has it that in 1241 a watchman saw the advancing Tartar invasion and started to warn the citizens of Krakow about the impending danger by playing his trumpet. A Tartar arrowsman spotted the trumpeter and with a well placed arrow pierced the trumpeters throat in mid song. This is why the hejnal stops on a certain note.

Whilst I was near the main square I decided to visit the large church near the corner of the city square. Upon entering the church it was crowded with people praying and placing lit candles next to thier choosen Icon. I am myself a Roman Catholic, but I was taken aback by the regimented way of worship here in Poland.. Anyway I bought some candles and placed them next to an Icon, and had a pray for my departed granmother.....

Krakow is the only place where you hear a bugle call (hejnal) every hour. The longest of the St Mary towers is the scene of this hejnal.

Every hour a bugle player (a member of the voluntary fire brigade) plays a bugle song in all 4 directions of the tower. The song ends abruptly. This to commemorate an old bugle player.

The story goes he tried to warn Krakow for an enemy invasion. The Bugle used to be played in case of emergency, from the tower you had a good view on what happened and when there was danger the bugle would alert everyone easily. One day the bugle player started warning people when an arrow hit his throath. He died instantly and finished his play abruptly.

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This beautiful Gothic church, in the main market square dates from the 14th Century. It is the most important place of worship in Krakow, after Wawel Cathedral. The two towers, added in the 15th Century are of different heights, one measuring 81m high and the other, 69m high. From the higher tower, a bugle call -- known as the "Hejnal Mariacki" – rings out every hour. It breaks off on an abrupt note to commemorate an unknown bugler struck in the throat by a Tartar arrow as he was playing his call to warn the city of an attack.
You have to go inside the church! It is the most beautiful church I have ever seen, with a beautiful blue ceiling, breathtaking stained glass windows and gold shining everywhere you look. There is a giant Gothic altarpiece, carved by Veit Stoss between 1477 and 1489 and has more than 200 carved figures on it.
Entrance - 4 zl

St Mary’s dominates any view of Krakow’s Rynek, the gothic towers reaching unopposed above the city skyline. Though the main façade is impressive, the interior shouldn’t be missed. Make sure you use the side-entrance as signposted, the front entrance is reserved for the faithful. Also it means you donate towards the upkeep of this stunning building. Though beautiful stained glass is immediately apparent within, the magnificent altarpiece is a exquisite sight to behold.

Also, the 5zl photography permit is well worth it as you can see!