The diocese of Krakow was established in 1000 AD, and a short time later, Krakow got its first cathedral - a pre-Romanesque construction of which nothing now remains.
The current Gothic cathedral was constructed in the early 14th century by Ladislaus the Short, and dedicated by Bishop Nanker to St. Stanislaus the Bishop. In 1320, Ladislaus the Short was crowned here, 13 years later he was buried here, and henceforth this would be the location for all royal coronations, weddings, and funerals, even after the court had moved to Warsaw.
The centre of the cathedral is dominated by the early 17th-century Confessional of St. Stanislaus the Bishop. In the side spaces you can find such delights as Wit Stwosz's 1492 Gothic Chapel of the Holy Cross, and Francis Florentin's 1502 Renaissance Chapel of King John Albert. There is also a stairway leading up to the belfry where you will find some superb views, and Jan Beham's 1520 Sigismund Bell, an 11-ton giant. Back on the ground you will find a staircase leading down to the Crypt of St Leonard. This is the oldest part of the cathedral, and along with the lower part of the tower of silver bells, is all that remains of the Romanesque basilica that stood here in 1142.
From 1333 until the partition ended the Polish monarchy in the late 18th century, all the kings of Poland were buried here (except for King Ladislaus of Vana, whose body was not recovered after the battle of Vana in 1444, and whose absence is marked by an empty sepulcher). Following the reunification of the country in the 19th century, the Royal Crypts were interconnected to form a single necropolis that was augmented, due to the absence of a monarchy, with the remains of national heroes and artists. This created a place of pride for the newly independent Polish people.
The Cathedral is open 9am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday and 2:15pm to 5pm on Sundays; entrance is 6 zloty - it is well worth a visit.