Poles march on Vienna to mark 1683 battle

Ceremony at the tomb of King Jan Sobieski prior to the expedition. Photo: PAP/Stanislaw Rozpedzik

The participants paid tribute at the tomb of battle victor King Jan III Sobieski in Krakow's Wawel Cathedral prior to setting out on their expedition.

The Polish monarch commanded an alliance of European soldiers in the historic clash, with Vienna besieged by troops of the Ottoman Empire.

The trekkers hope to be atop Vienna's Kahlenburg Hill - the vantage point from which Sobieski launched his attack - on Sunday 8 September, when wreaths will be laid at the site.

Although the main participants in the expedition are travelling by foot, ten Poles will make a symbolic expedition on horseback for the first stretch of the journey, towards what is now the Czech border.

Statue of King Jan Sobieski

Meanwhile, representatives of the cities of Vienna and Krakow will take part in a ceremony on 12 September at Kahlenburg when the foundation stone of a statue of King Jan Sobieski will be laid.

The monument has been designed by Professor Czeslaw Dzwigaj, a prolific Polish sculptor whose works, including several of Pope John Paul II, can be found across Poland.

The idea for the statue was put forward by Krakow's so-called Fowler Brotherhood (Bractwo Kurkowe), an ancient guild of merchants and professionals of which Professor Dzwigaj is a member.

Last autumn, a big-budget Italian-Polish movie was released about the battle, but in spite of an all-star cast and suitably grand locations, the film failed to win over the critics. (nh)

Source: PAP