Symptoms and mechanisms of decaying of the stone pavement in te courtyard of Wawel

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find the symptoms and mechanisms of decaying of the stone pavement. The area of observation was Wawel castle courtyard. The original stone pavement was constructed of Polish Jurassic limestone from the Cracow area. In the time of reconstruction works the stone was replaced by Turkish limestone “Crema Rosalia”. After sixteen years the new pavement is still in good condition, but the first sights of decay can be noticed already. The conducted analysis reveals that the decay varies depending on the variation of the stone, and where is it placed at the courtyard.