Tadeusz Kościuszko is a beloved Polish figure who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later inspired the Kościuszko Uprising against foreign rule in Poland. Like the ancient Krakow mounds built to commemorate the legendary King Krakus and Princess Wanda, this verdant mound was made to honor the modern-day freedom fighter. The structure holds urns with soil from the Polish and American battlefields where Kościuszko fought.
Visitors enter the mound through a museum built into the surrounding brick fortifications and featuring a permanent exhibition on Kościuszko. A winding path leads to the top, where visitors will find a granite boulder inscribed with "Kościuszce" (To Kościuszko), as well as spectacular views of the city, the Vistula River, and the distant Tatra Mountains. On-site is also the Chapel of Blessed Bronisława, a neo-Gothic structure with additional artifacts related to Kościuszko.
The Kościuszko Mound has a small admission fee, which is waived for KrakowCard holders.
Entrance to the mound is free on three days related to events in Kościuszko's life: February 4, March 24, and October 15.
Pets are not allowed to enter the Kościuszko Mound.
The walkway around the mound is steep, but there are accessible entrances, ramps, and elevators.
The mound is situated in the western part of Krakow's Zwierzyniec district. A cab from the Old Town to Kościuszko Mound will run about 30 złoty. By public transportation, take trams 1 or 2 to Salwator station; from there, you can either take the 100 bus to the top or walk about a mile (1.6 kilometers) up Świętej Bronisławy to the mound. (Note that the walk is somewhat steep.) You can also take the 101 bus from Rondo Grunwaldzkie.
Congregating on one of Krakow's four mounds for the sunrise or sunset is a beloved activity for locals, who often bring a picnic for the occasion. The most popular is Kościuszko Mound, where views of the surrounding forest change seasonally. While springtime can be windiest atop the mound, this is when the trees are most verdant. Kościuszko is said to have been a passionate gardener, so a garden of roses and other plants is in bloom on the grounds year-round.
It took over three years to build the mound, partly because much of its construction was by volunteers, and partly because the dirt was brought by villagers from all over Poland who wanted to play a role in putting together the landmark. When it was finished in 1823, the mound was 112 feet high (34 meters) and 1,170 feet above sea level (326 meters). On clear days, the Tatra Mountains can be viewed from the top.
