Statement of Accessibility

Wawel Royal Castle – State Art Collection is committed to making its website accessible to individuals with disabilities, in compliance with the Act of April 4, 2019 on the accessibility of websites and mobile applications in the public sector (Journal of Laws 2019, no. 848). This statement of accessibility applies to the website www.wawel.krakow.pl

Website publication date: 2019-03-08. Most recent update: 2019-09-24.

The website is partially compliant with the Act of April 4, 2019 on the digital accessibility of public sector websites and mobile applications, due to the exceptions listed below. The following requirements have not been met: accessible alternative in text form. Completion is planned for June 30, 2020. Previously not possible for technical reasons.

This statement was prepared on 2019-09-23
This statement was developed on the basis of a self-assessment review conducted by the public sector entity.

Feedback and Contact Information

Wawel Royal Castle is committed to ensuring that digital content on the website www.wawel.krakow.pl is fully accessible to all users, in a clear and comprehensible manner, with convenient navigation enabling logical and intuitive use of the website. We are constantly working to remove barriers to accessibility on our website www.wawel.krakow.pl.

If you encounter accessibility problems on our website, please let us know. The contact person is Renata Paszkowska-Kwiatek, renata.kwiatek@wawelzamek.pl. tel 12 422-51-55 ext. 340.

Appeal Procedure

Anyone can request that the website, mobile application, or any element thereof be made digitally accessible. You can also request that information be made available by an alternative means of access, for example, having a digitally inaccessible document read aloud, describing the content of a film without audio description, etc. The request should include the contact information of the person submitting the request, indication of which website or mobile application the request pertains to, and contact method. If the person making the request would like to receive the information via an alternative means of access, they should specify the method of presenting the information that is convenient for them. The public sector entity should respond to the request as quickly as possible, no later than 7 days from the submission of the request. If this deadline cannot be met, the public sector entity shall immediately inform the person making the request when it will be possible to meet the request, which shall be a period not longer than 2 months from the date of the request. Where digital accessibility cannot be provided, the public sector entity may propose an alternative means of accessing the information. Should the public sector entity refuse to respond to an accessibility request or to provide alternative means of accessing information, the person making the request is entitled to file a complaint regarding the lack of digital accessibility of a website, mobile application, or an element of a website or mobile application. Once the procedure outlined above has been exhausted, a request may be submitted to the Ombundsman: www.rpo.gov.p

Accessibility

• from ul. Kanonicza – pedestrian traffic only, no architectural barriers except a set of low steps in the Vasa Gate passage
• from the intersection of Bernardyńska, Stradom, and Grodzka streets: approach for both pedestrian and vehicle (by permission) traffic; cobbled roadway, sidewalks on either side of the road

• the main ticket window is located in the Visitors Center
  the building is equipped with a wheelchair ramp (on the exterior courtyard side); no mobility barriers inside
• the seasonal ticket window (open April–October), located at the Herbowa Gate (ul. Kanonicza approach) – please note that there are several low steps to climb in the Vasa Gate

• Arcaded Courtyard checkroom (for visitors with valid tickets to the exhibitions) – enter through the Berrecci Gate; fully accessible
• Luggage Room at the Bernardyńska Gate (luggage, carry-on bags, oversize backpacks) – reached by the approach from ul. Bernardyńska (pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic, cobblestones, sidewalk on both sides of roadway)

• Visitors’ Center – fully accessible, wheelchair ramp to building
• Exterior Courtyard (next to the Lost Wawel exhibition entrance) – wheelchair ramp
• Arcaded Courtyard (enter through passageway in south wing) – wheelchair ramp; please note: approach is steep, cobblestones, can be slippery

A modern external lift is available in the castle. Its use by persons with disabilities is possible only in the presence of a member of staff. In order to shorten the waiting time for access to the lift, please request this from the Reservation Office, Tourist Information or ticket office.

Castle I (2nd floor of the Castle) – accessible over the whole length of the tour (access by lift to the arcaded gallery, climbing steps on the tour using platforms).
Castle II (3rd floor of the castle) – accessible over the whole length of the tour (access by lift to the arcaded gallery, climbing single steps on the tour using platforms).

Castle Underground:
Wawel Underground: The Lapidarium – accessible for wheelchair users using the lift for the disabled (without the well vestibule); the lift allows only a person in a wheelchair to descend, a standing person cannot descend;
Please note: the platform can carry a wheelchair, which together with the person sitting on it does not exceed the dimensions of 70 x 77cm and 110 in height (low vault)
The Lost Wawel – accessible for wheelchair users along the entire length of the tour.
Church of St. Gereon – not accessible for wheelchair users

The Armoury – partially accessible for wheelchair users (ground floor)
Please note: the platform can carry a wheelchair, which together with the person sitting on it does not exceed the dimensions of: 78 x 82 cm

The Crown Treasury – The exhibition is not fully accessible for people using wheelchairs - there is no lift available to facilitate entry to the exhibition (from 14.10.2024 until further notice). The difficulties are caused by the preparation of a new arrangement of "The Armoury" exhibition.

Recovered Wawel – not accessible for wheelchair users (numerous narrow and steep steps along the tour route).
Dragon's Den – not accessible for wheelchair users – descent via a steep winding staircase.
Sandomierska Tower – not accessible for wheelchair users – visiting the tower requires climbing 137 steps.
Arcaded Gallery and viewing terrace – Arcaded Gallery of the 3rd floor are accessible for wheelchair users along the entire length of the route; viewing terrace is not accessible for wheelchair users, access to the terrace requires climbing 100 steps
Royal Gardens – partially accessible for wheelchair users; passage/walkway under the curtain wall is on uneven pavement and at a steep angle; upper terrace requires climbing high stairs

Possibility of borrowing a wheelchair
A possibility of borrowing a wheelchair is available at the Reception Desk of the Castle I and Crown Treasury and at the Tourist Information (Visitors Centre) for visitors with motor disabilities.
The following exhibitions are accessible to visitors in electric wheelchairs: The Lost Wawel, Castle II (2nd floor), and ground floor rooms of The Armoury.