Why is there someone playing a trumpet every hour on the hour on the Krakow Main Square?
With many things in Krakow there is both a legend and a truth associated with a tradition and the Krakow trumpeter is no exception! The legend states that during one of the Mongolian Tartar invasions in the 1200s- a trumpeter played from the watchtower in St. Mary’s and effectively warned the city of the invasion- saving Krakow from immense destruction. However, as the trumpeter played, one of the invaders shot an arrow towards him that pierced right thru his neck, killing him.
While this legend is an exciting and daring tale- the real reason that the trumpeter would only play a portion of a melody, is because it was played from watchtower to city gate as a way to communicate.
Listen to the melody here in our TikTok!
@krakowexplorers 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣➕ Things to do in Krakow (3/500): We’re back with out new list to share with you the infamous hejnał or trumpeter of Krakow! Listen to his full melody here! But don’t forget to visit him in person when you arrive! He’s easy to see- since he plays in four directions EVERY hour of the day! Come on our walking tour and you just might learn the legend of the hejnał! Or even the truth behind why he stops his tune halfway through! #krakow #thingstodoinkrakow #travel #hejnal #hejnał
So how did this Krakowian legend start, and what’s up with the trumpeter today?
Well, rumor has it there was an American guy named Eric Kelley who came to Krakow- and as he was being guided around he heard the trumpeter play. He noticed that the song didn’t seem complete, and when he asked his guide why, she made up the entire story about the arrow to the throat- on the spot. Eric Kelly of course went back to the states and wrote a best-selling book titled “The Krakow Trumpeter” and the rest is history.
How often does the Krakow Trumpeter Play?
Now, to celebrate the tradition of the Hejnał, as it’s called in Polish, a trumpeter can be heard playing from the tallest tower of St. Mary’s, every hour on the hour, in four directions. There are seven different men who can lay claim to this famous role at any given time, and they work in shifts of twos, spending 24-hours up in the tower waiting for the bells to ring, and cue them for their hourly performance.
Fun fact: All Krakow trumpeters are firemen! And you can even visit them. Just go to this website to learn how to climb the tower at St. Mary’s. Our advice if you want to meet the trumpeter (remember it’s only possible at certain times of the year) is to go to the office for St. Mary’s Basilica on Plac Mariacki as soon as they open on the day you wish to climb the tower. They’ll give you an option for a time to come back and climb if all the spots aren’t sold yet. This isn’t something you can book in advance, you really have to be there early to snag a spot, as it’s done daily on a first-come-first-serve basis. Climbing to the top of the tower will require you to walk up just a bit under 300 stairs, so keep that in mind before booking!
Don’t forget- if you have any questions about Krakow- get in touch! You can find us on all social media @KrakowExplorers or contact us here.
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