Attraction

Wanda Mound in Krakow: the legend of Wanda and the eagle

Jan Długosz considered this mound, probably raised in the 7th or 8th century, to be the tomb of the legendary Wanda. The city authorities say there is no evidence for this.

Wanda Mound in Krakow, Kopiec Wandy in Polish, stands 14 metres high near the wall that surrounds the Tadeusz Sendzimir Steelworks in Nowa Huta. It is also called Wanda's Mound. Legend says it is the grave of Wanda, daughter of the legendary founder of the city.

Climb to the summit to see the eagle sculpture and to look over the Vistula valley from the east. The city recommends the tram from Central Square (Plac Centralny).

The city authorities call the mound one of the oldest visible traces of human activity in this area, and VisitMałopolska describes it as the smallest of the mounds in Krakow.

The eagle on the summit of Wanda Mound

At the end of the 19th century, a marble sculpture of an eagle designed by Jan Matejko was placed on the summit of the mound. The eagle on the summit today is a replica. The 19th-century marble original was taken down. In 2013 it was shown at the exhibition "Nowa Huta 1949+" in a branch of the city's historical museum, Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa, on the Słoneczne housing estate (osiedle Słoneczne).

Maria Lempart, a co-author of that exhibition, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that a photograph shows the eagle originally had no crown. She said the crown was added only later, during conservation of the monument.

History of Wanda's Mound: legend and theories

The legend tells of Wanda, daughter of the legendary founder of the city. She refused to marry a German ruler and threw herself into the waves of the Vistula, because she did not want to expose her people to the revenge of her suitor. In the legend, a burial mound was raised at the place where her body was taken out of the river. Her father is Prince Krak.

The mound was probably raised in the 7th or 8th century. It was first mentioned in the 13th century, when it was called Mogiła (a Polish word for grave). The village at the foot of the mound was named after the mound. Another hypothesis dates the mound, like Krakus Mound, to the time of the Celts, the 1st century AD.

Jan Długosz considered the mound to be the tomb of the legendary Wanda. According to the city authorities, there is no evidence to confirm this. Other hypotheses see the mound as part of a defence system, as a Slavic altar, or even as part of a Celtic calendar system together with Krakus Mound. According to VisitMałopolska, the regional tourism portal, the first geological survey of the mound took place in 2016, but it did not show whether the mound is a burial place.

How to get to Wanda Mound

The mound stands by Ujastek Street (also given as Ujastek Mogilski), near the wall that surrounds the steelworks. From Central Square, take a tram on one of the lines that run towards the ArcelorMittal steelworks. The mound is described on the official website of the city of Krakow.

The mound is also on the city's Korona szczytów Krakowa route (the Crown of Krakow's Peaks) as the peak for Nowa Huta, not far from the Lutrów mound (kopiec Lutrów in Polish).

Mogiła Abbey, Nowa Huta Reservoir and other places nearby

All distances here are in a straight line. The Steelworks Administration Centre is about 1100 m from the mound, and Mogiła Abbey is about 1200 m away. The Nowa Huta Reservoir (Zalew Nowohucki) is about 1500 m away, and Central Square is about 2200 m away.

Wanda Mound: questions visitors ask

Where is Wanda Mound in Krakow?

In Nowa Huta, by Ujastek Street (also given as Ujastek Mogilski). It is near the main gate of the Tadeusz Sendzimir Steelworks.

Who is buried in Wanda Mound?

Legend says the mound is the grave of Wanda. There is no evidence for this, and, according to VisitMałopolska, the 2016 geological survey did not show whether the mound is a burial place.