People lived on the Wawel Hill at least as early as fifty thousand years ago, in the Paleolithic Age. It was in the early 11th century that the rulers of Poland took up their residence there and built various fortifications and building over the centuries. During the early 16th century the splendid Renaissance palace-cum-castle was built which has survived, little changed, until now.
In the foregound are remains of the Gothic defence wall and remains of the foundations of buildings from the mid 14th century.
The blue fencing is enclosing the site of some renovation work to the grounds