Situated on the bank of the Vistula river and surrounded by its waters and marshes, the Wawel hill had provided a safe haven for people since the Paleolithic Period. From the 7th century on, Slavic peoples inhabited the hill. Towards the end of the first millennium, Wawel began to be a center of political power and, by the 9th century, it was the principal fortified settlement. The first historical ruler of Poland chose Wawel Hill as one of his residences. Wawel Hill was the site of the first early-Romanesque and Romanesque sacral buildings, among them a stone cathedral, erected when the bishopric of Kracow was established in the year 1000. During the early 16th century the castle was renovated as a splendid Renaissance palace. It soon became a paragon of stately residence in Central and Eastern Europe and served widely as a model throughout the region. Following the ravages of World War II, by the decree of the State National Council, Wawel Castle became a national museum.