Crown Treasury & Armoury

Lonely Planet review

Wawel Royal Castle is now a museum containing five separate sections, each requiring a different ticket that is valid for a specific time. There's a limited daily quota of tickets for some parts, so arrive early if you want to see everything or phone ahead to reserve. You will need a ticket even on 'free' days.

The castle's Crown Treasury & Armoury are housed in vaulted Gothic rooms surviving from the 14th-century castle on the ground floor of the northeastern part of the castle. The most famous object in the treasury is the Szczerbiec, or 'Jagged Sword' dating from the mid-13th century, which was used at all Polish coronations from 1320 onwards. Nearby are the shoes worn by King Zygmunt August at his coronation in 1530. The adjacent armoury features a collection of old weapons from various epochs - from crossbows, swords, lances and halberds from the 15th to 17th centuries to muskets, rifles, pistols and cannon from the 18th century onward.