Kurza Stopka, Kraków

Kurza Stopka is a projecting castle tower attached to Wawel Castle. Its lower structure dates from about the mid-fourteenth century, while the limestone facing and interior belong to the century’s later years. The façade carries three heraldic shields: an eagle, a mounted knight, and a double cross.

The tower’s present form probably took shape under King Władysław Jagiełło. After a roof fire in 1595, the rooms were given a Baroque interior with marble decoration, but the king’s chamber in the upper part survived untouched. Nearby, the older building associated with the name Kurza Noga preserves the Gothic Kazimierzowska Hall, with a central pillar, ribbed vaulting, a fireplace, window seats, and a Gothic portal. That room later served as part of the castle treasury.