As you can see, whether it was for defense or trading, geography played an important role in how Poland developed.
The inside of the castle is filled with art, fancy furniture and even a ballroom! When Poland still had kings, it was very wealthy. This meant the king could afford expensive items to show off to his guests. It was also very important to have these items as they showed wealthy people from other countries visiting the castle that Poland would be a good country to invest in.
Today, there are no kings in Poland. They now elect a president, just like we do in America. But, Wawel Royal Castle is still an important piece of Poland's identity. To modern-day Polish people, the castle is a reminder of Poland's proud past as one of Europe's strongest and wealthiest countries. It is loved by the people of Krakow and visited by over a million people every year.
