Medieval Krakow

Medieval Krakow

Author: History Hit August 24, 2026 Duration: 1:02:45

In the Middle Ages, Krakow was one of Central Europe’s greatest cities: a thriving crossroads of kings, merchants and legends, crowned by a royal castle and haunted by tales of dragons. But in 1241, catastrophe arrived. Mongol armies swept in from the east, devastating the region and reducing Krakow to ashes. Yet from the ruins, the city would rise again, stronger and grander than before. Join Dan on a journey to uncover Krakow’s extraordinary medieval story - exploring its castles, streets and legends to discover how invasion, destruction and remarkable resilience forged one of Europe’s most magnificent cities.


If you'd like to visit any of the locations in this episode, you can visit https://visitmalopolska.pl/en_GB for more information


The Wieliczka Salt Mine at https://www.wieliczka-saltmine.com/


The Rynek Underground Museum: https://muzeumkrakowa.pl/en/branches/rynek-underground


For more information about visiting Wawel Castle, search https://wawel.krakow.pl/en


This episode was made in association with the Polish National Tourist Office, with huge thanks to Mirosław Bartyzel, Dorota Wojciechowska and the Malopolska Tourism Organisation.


Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore.


Dan Snow's History Hit is a History Hit podcast.


History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


There’s history you might recall from a textbook, and then there’s the kind that feels like you’re standing right there in the moment. Dan Snow's History Hit is firmly in the latter category. Hosted by the historian Dan Snow, this podcast doesn't just recount dates and facts; it transports you. Each episode is built from Dan's travels to the actual locations where history unfolded, from the echoing floor of the Roman Colosseum to the silent expanse of the Waterloo battlefields and the awe-inspiring presence of the Great Wall of China. The conversations dig into the compelling human stories-the motivations of heroes and villains, the engineering behind great monuments, and the pivotal decisions that changed everything. You’ll hear the how and why behind the world's most defining events, delivered with a palpable sense of place and curiosity. New episodes arrive twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays, with additional subscriber episodes every other Friday, making this a consistently engaging dive into our shared past. It’s a history podcast that treats the subject not as a static record, but as a living, breathing narrative waiting to be explored.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Dan Snow's History Hit
Podcast Episodes
The Real St George and the Dragon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:17
He wasn't an English knight, but actually a Roman soldier, and the dragon didn't appear until centuries later in the medieval period. So what is the origin of the Saint George and the Dragon myth? And why do so many coun…
The Real History Behind The Odyssey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:21
Is there any truth in the Odyssey, and what does it all mean? We know it's a story where a man convenes with monsters and gods, ghosts and mythological beings, but the Odyssey actually does tell us a lot about Ancient Gr…
A Day in the Life of a Gladiator [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:29
Step into the roaring arena of ancient Rome, where every sunrise could be a gladiator's last... From brutal training and hard-won fame to the thunderous spectacle that captivated an empire, discover what life was really…
What Happens in The Odyssey? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:24
Dan narrates his own epic retelling of the Odyssey - following Odysseus' route around the Mediterranean. He tells the story of the many trials and tribulations the Greek hero faces on his 10-year journey home to his king…
The Birth of America Explained [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:23
Born from revolution, this bold vision of liberty toppled the old order and reshaped the course of democracy. Today, we discover how a few powerful ideas changed history forever.Joining us is Gary Gerstle, Emeritus Profe…
Agrippina the Younger: Rome's Most Notorious Empress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:20
Agrippina the Younger was one of the most powerful players in Roman history: a ruthless political operator who clawed her way to co-rule the empire, only to be murdered by the son she put on the throne. We're joined by h…
Life in the Trenches [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:50
What was life really like in the trenches of the First World War? In this episode, we step into the mud of the Western Front to hear about the horrors that soldiers faced; from artillery bombardments and sniper fire to d…
Spain vs Portugal: The Spice Race [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:30
What happens when tiny volcanic islands become the most valuable real estate on Earth? In the 16th century, Portugal and Spain launched a deadly race to control the global spice trade, sparking an age of empire, violence…
Why Did The Roman Empire Collapse? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:22
How does an empire spanning three continents and half a millennium fall apart?In the final episode of our series on the Roman Empire, we're joined by Professor Peter Heather to unravel Rome's collapse - from the chaos of…
The Origins of the Tank [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:38
How did century-old 'landships' developed from agricultural tractors evolve into the armoured giants of the modern battlefield? Today, we trace the lineage of the tank, from its origins in the trenches of the First World…