Kosciuszko's Mound

eternal monument in tribute to the Head

Kosciuszko's Mound is raised in the western part of Cracow, on the highest hill of Sikornik, also known as the hill of blessed Bronislawa, being 333 m above sea level high.

History

Tadeusz Kosciuszko died in 1817, and his remains rested in Cracow - the city he was associated with and the inhabitants of which held the Head in special esteem. A collection of money was organized to build a monument commemorating the national hero. It was decided to raise a mound similar to the mounds of Krakus and Wanda, already existing in Cracow. They were identified with constancy and indestructibility. Extremely important was also the fact that they had been raised by the common effort of all people and they were not easy to damage for the foes. In July 1820 the Senate of the Free City of Cracow approved the decision to raise the mound on the hill of blessed Bronislawa on the west of the city. The plot for building of the monument was given by the Norbertines nuns from the convent in the Zwierzyniec district.

Raising of the mound started on 15 September 1820 during a celebration attended by many Poles, also from outside the borders of the Republic of Cracow. The general of the Polish armies of the Warsaw Principality, one of the last secretaries - aide-de-camps of Kosciuszko, his second cousin and heir, Franciszek Maximilian Paszkowski delivered a speech. Participation, even a symbolic one, in raising of the mound was nearly a patriotic obligation. It was done even by foreigners visiting the city. The mound contains soil from the places where Kosciuszko fought: Raclawice, Maciejowice, Szczekociny, Dubienka, as well as from the battlefields in the United States offered to the mound on 4 July 1926 by an American delegation. Thanks to the work of volunteers, despite financial and technical troubles, the object was completed within three years, exactly on 25 October 1823. The mound reached 34.1 m of height, 80 m of diameter at the base and 8.5 m of diameter on the top.

The guard over the mound was kept by the Committee for Construction of the Monument of Tadeusz Kosciuszko. It was planned to establish around the mound a settlement for peasants' families whose members participated in Kosciuszko's Insurrection. However, that construction was not effective. Maintenance of the mound became a problem as the time was going by, because it was continuously damaged by climatic factors and animals. The thorough renovation and reconstruction of the mound, scheduled for 1846, was not realized, as a result of the liquidation of the Free City of Cracow and its incorporation into the territory of Austria.

After the events of the Spring of Nations, in accordance with the policy of Germanization of the society, the importance of the mementos of Polishness was liquidated or played down. In 1850 the area of the mound along with the nearest surroundings was taken over by military authorities. The result was a ring of fortifications created around the mound, the construction of which was completed in 1854. It was one of the elements of the policy aiming to transform Cracow into a fortress. However, easy access to the mound was left for people during the day. In 1860 a granite boulder was put on the top of it, with the following text: "For Kosciuszko".

During the World War I, the commemorative stone was removed, and the Austrians arranged an observation point on top of the mound. After recovering independence, the mound became again a great attraction of the city. During World War II, the Nazi occupiers planned to level Kosciuszko's Mound as the symbol of Polishness. During the liberation of Cracow the mound was an observation point and the seat of Soviet troops.

After World War II, one started to destroy the fort built by Austrians. Such action was justified by the need to obtain building materials and cover the traces of presence of the occupant. Until 1957 one managed to pull down the western part of the fort. As a result of protests of the lovers of monuments and specialists, as well as after stating the unprofitability of the entire project, the decision was made to resign from the demolition of the fort.

In 1977 a hotel was opened in the restored part of the fort. At the beginning of the 1990s it became the seat of Radio RMF FM, and the related networks.

Renovation of the mound

The powerful rainstorms in 1997 contributed to major damages of the mound. At that time the Honorary Committee for Saving Kosciuszko's Mound was established, the goal of which was to collect money for the necessary renovation. The cost of renovation amounted to 14.7 million PLN. On 10 November 2002 the mound was made available to visitors again.

Access

MPK bus no. 100 runs to the mound. It departs from Rondo Grunwaldzkie 45 minutes after each full hour, from 7.45 a.m. to 7.45 p.m., and from the mound it departs 25 minutes after each full hour from 7.25 a.m. - 7.25 p.m. One should step out on the next to last bus stop.

Another option is to access Salwator and hike to the mound along Washington Avenue. Access to Salwator by trams no. 1, 2, 6 and bus line no. 109, 209, 229, 239, 249, 259, 269, 409.

One can get to the mound by bus or by car - parking is not a problem. Near the cash desk there is also a sound bicycle rack (protecting chains for rent at the cash desk).

Opening hours

Throughout the whole year the mound is open from 9:00 a.m. until dusk, and additionally in the period from 1 May to 31 September, it is open from dusk until 11:00 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Prices

Free entrance on: March 24th, May 3th, November 11th.

:comment_add:

:comments:

:comment_add_comment:

:f_cuser::
:f_ctopic::
:f_ccomment::

:f_crating::

 

:comment_notyet:

:comment_policy: