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The Krakus Mound in Kraków Traditional Geocache

Hidden : 11/19/2004
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This cache, as well as many other caches in Poland, has also been registered at Gpsgames.org. Please consider registering your find here as well.

The cache is hidden close to the Krakus Mound in Kraków.

The Krakus Mound is situated on Krzemionki (Lasota Hill) is 16 meters of hight and probably built around the 8th century. The purpose of the mound is unexplained but the legend says that it either contains the tomb, or was built in honor of prince Krak, the founder of Kraków.

According to the legend, the people who build the mound carried the soil in their sleeves (Rekawa). Today, the tradition of Rekawa is celebrated through an outdoor fair and market taking place on Tuesday after Easter in the vicinity of the the mound (on the neighboring hill). However, today this festivity is usually limited to stands selling gingerbread, sweets, cheap souvenirs and toys with some shooting galleries and a fun fair. The festivities were transferred from the foot of the Krakus Mound after Krakow was annexed by Austria and a fortress was built surrounding the Mound. In the past the poor were also given food during these festivities, but Austrian authorities forbade this tradition in 1897. What remains today is only the fair.

Archeological research was conducted on the mound between 1934 and 1937. As its function is unknown, defensive, ritual and astronomical reasons have been mentioned. One theory is that the mound has been a religious site for the celts and that it was used in an old calendar system.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Va n ohfu Haqre fbzr fgbarf 8 zrgref njnl sebz ebbg pyhfgre

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)