Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Poland Krakow Wawel Chakra

Wawel Chakra

This grubby wall is said to be one of the Earth's esoteric energy centers.

Krakow, Poland

Added By
Jake Rice
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The wall is roped off to deter people from touching the chakra.   Jaceknow/cc by-sa 3.0
The wall is roped off to deter people from touching the chakra.   Jaceknow/cc by-sa 3.0
The courtyard of the castle.   Marku1988/cc by-sa 3.0
Panoramic of the area.  
  Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

At the Wawel Castle in Krakow, Poland, there’s a mysterious corner said to contain an otherworldly force flowing from the earth. Some claim that if you spend a few minutes there, you’ll be able to feel the energy flow through you.

It’s said that this unusual space is one of Earth’s chakra points, which some believe are places that emit a strong spiritual energy. This chakra’s center is said to be beneath St. Gereon’s chapel, an 11th-century structure wedged between the Krakow Royal Castle and the cathedral.

As such, this particular corner of the castle courtyard tends to draw a rather New Age crowd. Though the chapel itself isn’t open to the public, that doesn’t stop visitors from meditating in its presence or leaning against the wall to soak up the energy.

You’ll likely see a security guard or two hovering around the corner—the Catholic church isn’t a fan of the chakra legend—and the actual “Wawel Stone” is protected within a roped-off area to discourage people from touching the chakra stone. But still, it’s worth spending a bit of time there (just be mindful that it is a bit of a walkthrough). The inside of the cathedral is spectacular as well.

Related Tags

Legends Folklore Hippies Energy Castles Superstitions

Know Before You Go

Walk in the entrance past the cathedral and turn left. It's in the corner. There is a cloakroom there as well. 

Community Contributors

Added By

JakesMotoAdventure

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe, rbenn250, Igdaloff2, Johan SWE

  • Kerry Wolfe
  • rbenn250
  • Igdaloff2
  • Johan SWE

Published

October 26, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wawel_Chakra
  • https://www.inyourpocket.com/krakow/Wawel-Chakra_73710f
  • http://www.krakow-info.com/chakra.htm
Wawel Chakra
Wawel 3
Krakow
Poland
50.054695, 19.936337
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Bones of the Wawel Dragon

Krakow, Poland

miles away

Wawel Dragon's Den

Krakow, Poland

miles away

The Dragon Trail

Krakow, Poland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Krakow

Krakow

Poland

Places 30

Nearby Places

The Bones of the Wawel Dragon

Krakow, Poland

miles away

Wawel Dragon's Den

Krakow, Poland

miles away

The Dragon Trail

Krakow, Poland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Krakow

Krakow

Poland

Places 30

Related Places

  • Dunvegan Castle

    Isle of Skye, Scotland

    The Fairy Flag of Dunvegan Castle

    Inside a Scottish castle hangs the tattered remains of a flag with murky origins and supposed magic powers.

  • The Wooden Man appears as if sleeping.

    Kværndrup, Denmark

    The Wooden Man

    Generations have refused to move this doll from its dusty resting place to preserve a castle from a watery fate.

  • A detail of the sculpture.

    Antwerp, Belgium

    Lange Wapper Statue

    This legendary giant, born from vegetables, terrorized townspeople and cheated local children in games.

  • The chapel at the castle.

    Blatce, Czechia

    Houska Castle

    Folklore says this medieval fortress was plopped atop a portal to hell to trap the demons below.

  • The story.

    Tōno City, Japan

    Denderano

    According to local legend, elderly villagers were once brought to this hill and left to die.

  • The Demon Oak Tree.

    Hirosaki, Japan

    Demon Oak Tree of Onizawa

    A mountain demon once helped a local villager construct a canal, after which he sat on this oak tree to rest.

  • The Iron Knight

    Prague, Czechia

    Iron Knight

    The statue of a cursed knight is said to come to life every 100 years.

  • The grave of the cannibal hag.

    Nihommatsu, Japan

    Kurozuka (Black Tomb)

    Local legend claims that this is the final resting place of an infamous cannibal hag.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.