Sigismund Bell, Bronze bell in Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, Poland
Description
Sigismund Bell is a bronze bell in Wawel Cathedral in Kraków. It reaches a height of about 240 cm and a diameter of roughly 242 cm (both slightly under 8 feet or 2.4 meters), while its bronze walls measure between 7 and 21 centimeters thick at different points.
History
Hans Behem cast it for King Sigismund I in 1520. It rang for the first time on July 13, 1521.
Culture
The name honors King Sigismund I, while the two saints featured on its surface recall important protectors of the region. The coats of arms show the close bond between the Polish kingdom and the Lithuanian grand duchy at the time of its creation.
Practical
Visitors must climb 144 steps to reach the bell tower. When the over 12-ton instrument is to ring, twelve bell-ringers are needed to set it in motion.
Did you know?
The sound reaches up to 30 kilometers away and can be heard in many surrounding villages and small towns. Its deep tone fills the landscape with each ringing.
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Krakow is a city where history lives in every corner. The old town center with its Main Market Square, St. Mary's Basilica, and Wawel Castle shows the medieval grandeur, while places like Oskar Schindler's Factory and the Ghetto Heroes Square speak to difficult periods in the city's past. This...
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