Visitors to Kraków, Poland’s second-largest city, have been temporarily deprived of one of their favorite attractions. The city’s legendary fire-breathing dragon statue near the iconic Wawel Castle has gone quiet for a month as experts investigate its increased fuel consumption.
According to The Independent, the six-meter-tall metal sculpture, which shoots real flames every three minutes, will undergo a gas supply inspection starting this week. Officials are looking for ways to reduce energy costs, Kraków’s road infrastructure office spokesperson Krzysztof Wojdowski confirmed.
The Wawel Dragon statue, one of Kraków’s most famous landmarks, draws millions of tourists annually who gather to witness its fiery spectacle. Designed by sculptor Bronisław Chromy in the late 1960s, the statue pays homage to a centuries-old legend. According to folklore, a fearsome dragon once terrorized the city, devouring livestock and, at times, young women. The beast met its end when a clever shoemaker tricked it into eating a sheepskin stuffed with sulfur. Overcome with thirst, the dragon drank so much water from the nearby Vistula River that it burst.
While the dragon’s temporary silence may disappoint visitors, officials assure that the pause is necessary to improve its efficiency and sustainability. The fiery display is expected to return in a month, with Kraków’s famous beast breathing fire once more—hopefully in a more energy-efficient manner.
