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

One of the greatest treasures of Wawel Royal Castle has arrived at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania – the legendary 17th-century tent of the Ottoman Empire's Grand Vizier. It stood outside the walls of Vienna when the Grand Vizier had ambitious but ultimately failed plans to capture the city; after his crushing defeat, the tent became a war trophy of Jan Sobieski. Surviving examples of such large Ottoman textile heritage pieces, shimmering with colour and symbolism, are extremely rare. This uniquely beautiful work has left Wawel for the first time, giving us the chance to better understand the more than five centuries 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 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 talk not only about wars and diplomacy, but also about the everyday Ottoman legacy in Europe: the spread of coffee culture, the origin of furniture names such as "sofa" and "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 office. A separate ticket to the museum itself must be purchased (Route II), so we recommend arriving early, as you may need to queue at the ticket office. Tour tickets are available here.

Adresas: Valdovų rūmai