No creature is more iconic in Polish lore than the Smok Wawelski, the Dragon of Wawel Hill. His story is the cornerstone of Kraków’s origin myth. As the legend goes, a fearsome dragon took up residence in a cave at the foot of Wawel Castle, terrorizing the kingdom of King Krakus. It devoured livestock and demanded regular sacrifices of young maidens, leaving the city in a state of perpetual fear.