Kanonia Street & Wishing Bell

Monument and Street in Warsaw

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Carlos Delgado

The Wishing Bell (Dzwon na Kanonii) is one of Warsaw’s beloved local legends tied to the city’s Old Town. Located on Kanonia Street, near St. John’s Archcathedral, the cathedral bell, crafted in 1646 by renowned artisan Daniel Tym—the same sculptor responsible for the statue of King Sigismund III atop Warsaw’s iconic column—was never used within St. John’s Archcathedral due to a defect.

The bellis located in Kanonia Street, once home to cathedral canons who served in St. John’s Church. Legend says that if you ring the bell and make a wish while standing quietly and respectfully, your wish will come true. This charming custom draws many tourists who pause by the bell during their strolls, often accompanied by a quiet moment of reflection amid the bustling Old Town.

Nearby, a discreet covered walkway connects St. John’s Archcathedral to the Royal Castle—a structural addition inspired by grim necessity. It was constructed in the wake of a failed assassination attempt on King Sigismund III, during which the attacker managed to strike the monarch twice with a pickaxe before being subdued.

Local Legend of the Wishing Bell

Long ago, a young bellmaker named Kajetan loved Marynia, the daughter of a fellow craftsman. But his rival Hans, a cunning apprentice, wanted Marynia and the family business for himself. Enraged by her love for Kajetan, Hans poisoned Kajetan’s wine and sabotaged a bronze bell by mixing in tin. Then, pretending to fall for another woman, Hans vanished from town to avoid suspicion. The moment the flawed bell rang, Kajetan collapsed and died from the poison. Hans returned to claim his prize, but lost everything—Marynia became a nun, her father kept his work, and Hans went mad, dying by suicide.

The Kanonia Street & Wishing Bell appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Warsaw!

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