Delve into Krakow's medieval past, with tales of ancient kings and fire-breathing dragons, on this tour of the historic old town and castle. You’ll hear how Krakow was transformed into a royal city – and Poland’s capital until 1596 – after starting out as a humble merchant town. Our walk starts in the city’s medieval market square and ends just outside Wawel Castle, the first ever UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Krakow’s whole old town was the first city in Europe to be given UNESCO World Heritage status too.) Along the way, I’ll tell you about the invasion of the tribes of Genghis Khan, the Nazi general who used Wawel Castle as his home during World War Two and the rise of Pope John Paul II, Krakow's most famous son. Some of the highlights you can look forward to include: • The story of St. Mary's trumpeter • Krakow's legendary fire-breathing dragon • A walk around Wawel Castle and the Royal Palace which are open from 10am to 6pm • Stories about St. Mary's Basilica and the Wawel Cathedral • The Kraków Barbican, a medieval fortress • A short visit to the Bishop's Palace, the former home of Pope John II The tour will take around 2 hours on foot. There are plenty of cafes and refreshments along the way, should you need to stop for a break. From the finish close to Wawel Castle, it’s only a short walk back to the market square.