Mounds of Kraków

When visiting Kraków, you’ve surely seen the Kościuszko Mound, clearly visible from Wawel Hill. You may have heard that there are four such mounds commemorating great heroes. But not everyone knows that originally there were actually nine, four of which no longer exist. Which ones? You’ll find out from this short text.

Krakus Mound

Located in the Podgórze district, the Krakus Mound commemorates the legendary founder of the city, father of Wanda. It is one of two—alongside Wanda’s Mound—that are at least early medieval, possibly even ancient. Archaeological research uncovered traces of the Lusatian culture, which would suggest several centuries before the birth of the carpenter’s illegitimate son from Nazareth. However, these were likely later intrusions; an Avar brooch from the 7th century found at the base suggests a more probable date. There are also traces of the Przeworsk culture, associated with the Celts. Either way, it is a very old mound, and for those less interested in archaeology, I’ll add that in my not‑so‑humble opinion it offers the most beautiful view of the city of kings—especially at sunset, when on nice days hundreds of people gather to admire the beauty of nature and architecture.

Wanda Mound

Wanda’s Mound, where the legendary daughter of Krak is said to be buried, is located in Nowa Huta near the steelworks. According to legend, she refused to marry the evil Rydygier and threw herself into the Vistula River, which carried her body to the place where she was later buried. The nearby village took the name Mogiła (“grave”), now part of Nowa Huta. This mound is also early medieval, though its origins are unclear. Unlike the Krakus Mound, it has never been excavated, so there are fewer theories. It certainly predates the Piast dynasty. On its top stands a monument designed by Jan Matejko. The view from it may not be as spectacular as from the Krakus Mound, though you can still see a large part of the city. A fascinating fact: the alignment of the Krakus and Wanda Mounds corresponds with sunrise and sunset. From the Krakus Mound, the sun rises exactly over Wanda’s Mound on May 1 and August 10; from Wanda’s Mound, the sun sets exactly over the Krakus Mound on November 4 and February 6. Perhaps these ancient mounds served as a kind of calendar.

Kościuszko Mound

The Kościuszko Mound was built in the 19th century to commemorate a great hero of Poland and the United States. His remains were brought from Switzerland, where he died in exile, and buried in the Kraków cathedral. Around the mound stands a fort built by the Austro‑Hungarian Empire during the partitions. It is located in the beautiful villa district of Salwator on Sikornik Hill. It is the only mound with an entrance fee. The view from the café at its base is nearly as good as the one from the top.

Piłsudski Mound

Built in the interwar period and originally called the Mound of Independence, it was renamed after Marshal Józef Piłsudski following his death. It lies about 2 km beyond the Kościuszko Mound, on Sowiniec Hill near the Kraków Zoo in the Wolski Forest. The nearby Decjusz Villa also makes for a pleasant addition to a long walk. It is the largest mound in Poland. Soil from World War I battlefields where Poles fought was placed inside it. It was threatened with removal by the occupiers and partially damaged by the communists, but after political changes it regained its former glory.

Other Mounds in Kraków

The Esterka Mound in Łobzów was, according to urban legend, accidentally leveled by workers building a sports stadium in the 20th century. In Łuczanowice, Nowa Huta, there is the so‑called Lutherans’ Mound on the cemetery. There is also—of course—the John Paul II Mound in Dębniki from the 1990s. The Mound of the Kraków Republic on the Planty and the Wawel Mound, removed in the Middle Ages, no longer exist.

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