Lost Wawel

Extensive conservation works began immediately after Wawel was taken over from the Austrians in 1905. In 1917, while supervising a reconstruction of the royal kitchens, Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz discovered the remnants of a pre-Romanesque church built in circular plan with four apses attached. The discovery brought caused quite a stir and the church became quite renowned helping thus the authorities to undertake further studies and research.

It was only years later, in 1975, that the results of works conducted over the decades were successfully demonstrated and made available to visitors. This is how the exhibition called “Wawel Lost”, was organised in the building with which the Nazis replaced the former kitchens of the castle. In the first part of the exhibition, you walk on a suspended catwalk, marvelling at the Rotunda Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, later referred to as the Church of St Felix and St Adauctus which most probably had already been built in the 10th century. Attention is drawn to the relics of walls made of stone tiles, and complemented with reconstructed fragments. Fragments of walls exposed nearby are believed to be remnants of the main residence of the Prince (palatium) – possibly from a time earlier than the Piast Dynasty – and a fragment of a mausoleum with a preserved skeleton.

The small finds coming from the excavations include a stone figurine from the 10th century, green and brown glazed floor tiles decorated with plant and geometrical motifs, and numerous coins with the oldest ones being denarii of Boleslaus the Bold (Bolesław Śmialy) and Ladislaus Herman (Władysław Herman) from the 11th century.

You can find more information on visits to the exhibition in Museums section.