Ottoman Empire: From Foe to Ally | Exhibition Tour at the Palace of the Grand Dukes

One of the greatest treasures of Wawel Royal Castle, the legendary 17th-century Grand Vizier's tent of the Ottoman Empire, has arrived at the Palace of the Grand Dukes. It stood near Vienna when the Grand Vizier had ambitious but unsuccessful plans to conquer it. After a crushing defeat, the tent became a war trophy for John Sobieski. Such large, surviving works of Ottoman textile heritage, dazzling with colors and symbols, are extremely rare. This unique piece of extraordinary beauty has left Wawel for the first time to give us an opportunity to better understand the more than five-century-long history of relations between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Kingdom of Poland, and the Ottoman Empire – from wars to diplomacy, trade, and unexpected alliances. The exhibition features over 60 authentic artifacts from the collections of Wawel Royal Castle and the Palace of the Grand Dukes, inviting visitors to view the Ottoman Empire not only as an adversary but also as an important political partner. During the tour, we will discuss not only wars and diplomacy but also the everyday legacy of the Ottoman Empire in Europe: the spread of coffee culture, the origin of furniture names like "sofa" or "divan," the journey of tulips and lilacs to Europe, and other unexpected cultural connections. An additional exhibit also awaits you: the diptych of Queens Elizabeth and Barbara. Tour duration ~ 1.5 hours. Meeting point: at the ticket offices. A separate museum ticket (Route II) must be purchased , so we recommend arriving earlier as there may be a queue at the ticket offices. Please do not be late and have a copy of your ticket saved on your phone. If you are late, you can join the tour, but you will need to find the guide yourself, as guides do not answer calls during working hours. Tickets: https://tickets.paysera.com/lt/event/osmanu-imperija-nuo-prieso-iki-sajungininko-ekskursija-parodoje

Adresas: Valdovų rūmai