Sigismund Bell, Bronze bell in Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, Poland
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.
Hans Behem cast it for King Sigismund I in 1520. It rang for the first time on July 13, 1521.
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.
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.
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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