Kraków is a city filled with stunning architecture and legends, some of which have become the symbol of the city today such as the trumpet call played from the highest tower of Saint Mary’s Church in Kraków.?? ?
Like so many places in this charming city, the St Mary church is shrouded in mystery and legend. One of the well-known legends is the iconic trumpet call which is played every hour on the hour, four times in succession in each of the four cardinal directions, by a trumpeter on the highest tower of the ancient church. Although the earliest written mention of the appears of the trumpet dates from 1392, the most popular legend about the trumpet call comes from a story in the 13th century which tells a brave city guard who saved Kraków from a Tatar invasion.
Centuries ago, the high church tower served as a watchtower where a trumpeter stood guard and played the trumpet call at sunrise and sunset to give the signal to open and close the city gates or to warn the townspeople of fire or invasion. In 1241, when Mongol troops were approaching the gates of Kraków, a watchful guard noticed the enemy and blew the trumpet immediately, so that the gates were shut before they arrived. In the middle of the melody, a Tatar arrow pierced his throat and broke the alarm, but the city was saved. To commemorate the event, every day the trumpeter played the same melody from the four sides of the tower, and the tune always breaks in mid-note where the brave guardsman finished many centuries ago.
Today, the melody is not merely known to almost every Pole, but it was famous in the world after it was played by almost 2,000 trumpeters from all over the world and listed in the Guinness Book of Records in 2000. Lately, Kraków is looking for a new trumpeter to join a seven-person team and continue the 600-year-old tradition. Have you ever heard of the live trumpet call from the most beautiful market square of Kraków? I wonder how you feel about this living legend.?
If you haven‘t been to Kraków, you are welcome to join our ? 3days Krakow city break? to explore and enjoy the charm of the city.?
