Gniezno city - Monuments

Gniezno cathedral

The first place not to be missed during a trip to this region is Lech Hill. It is home to Gniezno Cathedral, which contains the oldest and most valuable monuments. Here, you will experience a journey to the times of Mieszko I and the beginnings of the Church in Poland, as well as the Piast dynasty. You will come across monuments that are sometimes more than a thousand years old, and see the walls of a church built by order of the country’s first ruler. Gniezno Cathedral witnessed the coronation of kings, the first king to be crowned in Gniezno being Bolesław the Brave. Rich collections can also be seen in the Museum of the Archdiocese of Gniezno – the cathedral’s treasury. It houses some of the oldest artefacts in Poland, including a golden chalice from the 10th century called the St. Adalbert’s Chalice.

The Gniezno Cathedral is a unique and unrepeatable temple, stunning in terms of architecture. It was rebuilt many times, and its present Gothic style was initiated in 1342 by Archbishop Jarosław Bogoria Skotnicki. The need for reconstruction resulted from the poor technical condition of the existing temple, as well as the need to expand it and adapt it to the increased number of cathedral clergy and new liturgical elements. The entire reconstruction was to restore the function of the coronation church of Polish kings to the Gniezno cathedral. Work began with the presbytery, which was given the form of an elongated rectangle with a polygonal ending. An ambulatory was built around it, which was later surrounded by a wreath of chapels. The chancel was erected with walls divided by a horizontal cornice into two storeys – arcaded and window. Next, the construction of the nave was carried out, and the main work on the cathedral body was completed around 1389/1390, the building was covered with a rib vault.

Church of the Holy Trinity 

In addition to the sun clock and precious stained glass windows, the temple boasts a beautiful late-baroque pulpit in the shape of a boat from the second half of the 18th century. In the past, the church was a meeting place for fraternities, guilds, and farmers. 

St. John the Baptist's Church

The church is known as the oldest preserved and most beautiful in the city. Erected in the mid 14th century, around the same time as the gothic Cathedral. In the chancel you can see the original polychromy, preserved during the construction of the temple, depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, St. John the Evangelist, St. John the Baptist and other saints. On the vault of the chancel, the images of 17 heads of prophets and apostles, and one head of a woman.

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Anthony

The Franciscan Church and Monastery is located on Maiden's Hill, and was founded by the Sisters of St. Clare, brought to Gniezno by the efforts of King Przemysl II. The shrine walls date back to 1270, but the early gothic temple was rebuilt several times. It is a brick church, one nave. Former oratory of the Order of Saint Clare, now forms the side nave of the church.

In the baroque interior of the temple can be found, among others, a valuable reliquary of Blessed Yolanda, a painting of the Virgin Mary "Lady of Gniezno" as well as rococo benches and stalls.

St. George's Church

The church was probably built in the 10th century in a place previously used for pagan worship. Noteworthy is the sculpture on the facade of the building, made by M. Rożek in 1936, depicting the patron of the temple during the fight with the dragon.

Our Lady Queen of Poland's Church

Founded in the 19th century as an evangelical church, and built according to the W. Schildner project. The building was patronized by King Frederick IV of Prussia. At the entrance to the temple are doors decorated with the images of angels, a project by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, one of the most outstanding German architects. Currently, a Catholic garrison (military) church.

Holy Michael the Archangel's Church

Built in the 13th century on a former fortification. At the entrance to the chancel there is a beautiful gothic baptismal font. In the side porch, a cross from the 16th century.

St. Lawrence's Church

One of the oldest buildings in the city. A document from 1255, published by Bolselaw the Pious, mentions a wooden parish church. Today it's a temple with a tower erected in the 16th century, restored in 1817.