St. Mary's Basilica, Krakow (2022) by Michał SiarekInternational Cultural Centre
The Church of St. Mary
is one of the most recognisable buildings in the Market Square of Kraków. This is one of the focal spots of the city, and also a testament to the development of Gothic architecture in Central Europe.
Once we take a closer look at its body, we can see that the two towers, topping its facade, differ in height. A popular legend explains this phenomenon.
St. Mary's Towers (2022) by Michał SiarekInternational Cultural Centre
Legend about two towers
The legend says that two brothers were contracted to build the towers. The older one had to erect the southern tower, while the younger one was to construct the northern tower. This undertaking became a fitting reason for them to engage in rivalry.
At first, the towers grew evenly. Some time later, the one being built by the older brother began to dominate the tower supervised by the younger brother.
Filled with envy, the younger brother murdered his sibling, and designed a dome to cover the unfinished tower. Then, he completed his tower.
After some time, the younger brother's guilty conscience began to torment him. As the legend says, on the day the church was to be consecrated, he confessed his crime and killed himself. He did so by jumping from the taller tower, with the knife that struck the fatal blow in his hand.
Krakow Cloth Hall (2022) by Michał SiarekInternational Cultural Centre
To commemorate these events, the townspeople fixed the murder weapon at the gate of the Cloth Hall.
Main Square in Krakow (2022) by Michał SiarekInternational Cultural Centre
There is also an alternate version of this legend, according to which some mysterious powers completed the construction of the tower assigned to the murdered brother. When the older brother saw this, he supposedly fell down from the scaffolding.
St. Mary's Towers (2022) by Michał SiarekInternational Cultural Centre
The shorter tower
The shorter tower is just over 226 feet (69 meters) high, and is a bell tower.
The taller tower
The taller one is just over 269 feet (82 metres) high. At one time there was a clock with mobile statues. Today, every hour, a trumpet call ("hejnał mariacki") is played to the four corners of the Earth, an example of the city's intangible cultural heritage.
Trumpeter playing St. Mary's Trumpet Call (2022) by Michał SiarekInternational Cultural Centre
St. Mary's Trumpet Call
This call was already being played at the tower of the Church of St. Mary in medieval times. Back then, it was an alert call to warn its residents of any dangers. It also marked the opening and closure of the city gates.
Trumpeter playing St. Mary's Trumpet Call (2022) by Michał SiarekInternational Cultural Centre
Another legend tells a related story. In the 13th century, Tatars invaded Poland, and a guard who spotted the danger began to play a trumpet call to warn the city. While he was playing, an arrow shot by a Tatar bowman pierced his throat. To commemorate this incident, the trumpet call of the Church of St. Mary always ends abruptly.
