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

One of the greatest treasures of Wawel Royal Castle has arrived at the Palace of the Grand Dukes – the legendary 17th-century tent of the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire. It stood near Vienna when the Grand Vizier had ambitious but unsuccessful plans to capture it, so after a crushing defeat, the tent fell to John Sobieski as war booty. Such large surviving Ottoman textile heritage pieces, sparkling with colors and symbols, are very rare. This unique work of extraordinary beauty has left Wawel for the first time so that we might have the opportunity to better understand the history of relations spanning more than five centuries 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 more than 60 authentic treasures 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 tell not only about wars and diplomacy but also about the everyday legacy of the Ottoman Empire in Europe: the spread of coffee culture, the origin of furniture names such as "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. We meet at the ticket offices. Tour tickets can be purchased here. A separate ticket to the museum itself must be purchased (Route II), so we recommend arriving earlier, as you might have to wait in line at the ticket offices. We kindly ask you not to be late and to 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.

Adresas: Valdovų rūmai