The project of the Dragon Trail as an alternative thematic route in the context of Kraków’s heritage management and the city’s iconosphere

This study explores the implementation and significance of the new community project the Dragon Trail in Kraków. The trail was the initiative of the city's residents. Despite support from the local community, the original version of the new route did not get approval from the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments, which opposed the project's location as inconsistent with the city’s policies. This article examines the reason for these controversies in the context of management of Kraków’s heritage, and the project development despite encountering obstacles. A mixed-methods approach was used including qualitative data from desk research and participant observation. The preliminary results of the research, show that The Dragons Trail offers one more thematic route attracting both the residents of Kraków and tourists. Following the trail, all visitors can see many less popular but interesting places outside of must-see spots and learn about the local history.