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Gothic architecture in modern Poland

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Polish Gothic architecture
Kraków Barbican
Collegium MaiusofJagiellonian Universityin Kraków
Nicolaus Copernicushouse inToruń

TheGothicarchitecture arrived inPolandin the first half of the 13th century with the arrival of theDominicanandFranciscanorders. The first elements of the new style are evident in the foundation of the DominicanTrinity churchinKraków(1226–1250),[1]built by BishopIwo Odrowąż.Rebuilding of theWrocław Cathedral,started in 1244, was another early manifestation of the Gothic style. The earliest building in Poland built entirely in the Gothic style is thechapel of St. Hedwig in Trzebnica(1268–1269), on the grounds of a Cistercian monastery.

Gothic architecture was proceeded by theRomanesquestyle, and some Romanesque buildings still survive, mostly in the north and west of the country (seehere). Most Gothic buildings in Poland are made ofbrick,and belong to theBalticBrick Gothic,especially in northern Poland (seeSignificant Brick Gothic buildings in Poland). Nonetheless, not all Gothic buildings in Poland are made of brick. Many buildings, e.g. theWawelCathedral in Kraków are mostly stone-built. Poland also has some Gothicfieldstone churches,mostly of relatively small size. The centres of Polish Gothic are Kraków,Gdańsk,ToruńandWrocław.

The reign of kingCasimir the Greatwas the time of the greatest flowering of gothic architecture in Poland. A similar development took place in the late Gothic phase, during the reign ofCasimir the Jagiellonian.

In the region ofLesser Poland(in the south) buildings were built of brick with stone blocks used for some details. Churches built in the area are often two-nave, there are also some basilicas with relatively short aisles.Silesian Gothicresembles solution found in Lesser Poland, with some influence fromBohemia.As in Lesser Poland, Silesian Gothic buildings were mostly made of brick, with stone being used for details. One of the characteristics is the location of the tower – at the intersection of the transept of the church choir, on the south-east. The architecture of the northern Poland was strongly influenced by theTeutonic Orderstate buildings andHansacities. Churches inPomeraniawere largely made of brick and were built ashall churcheswith tall towers, while basilicas were much less common. No new local form of the Gothic style developed inMazovia,and Mazovian architecture dominated by simplified forms of Gothic styles found elsewhere.

Castles

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Beginning in the 13th century, royal and ducal castles were being modernized, expanding functionality of existing buildings (Wawel Castle,Legnica Castle). Construction of new castle began. As this initially required consent of the ruler, the oldest castles were state-built. Initially, in the 13th century, the characteristic elements of the locks were placed in a role within the wood-earth castles, so the first castles were irregular in shape (e.g., inOpole). After the mid-13th century abandoned the construction palatiów to be connected rather with the earlier epoch. Regular shape of castles spread throughout the Polish Kingdom in the reign of Casimir the Great, and built them into this shape, even in areas of previous castles (Rawa, Łęczyca, Koło). Castles and monasteries built by Joannites (Stare Drawsko,Łagów,Swobnica,Pęzino) and the Teutonic Order, in the state created by them in Prussia (Malbork,Radzyń Chełmiński,Niedzica) and bishops (in Lipowiec). The castles were built or final defense towers (known as stołp) and residential towers (donżon).

The best preserved Gothic castles are:

Town halls

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A town hall calledRatuszwas a symbol of a city's power in the Middle Ages. Around the town hall were other buildings associated with the function of the urban organism: hall, municipal building, weight, merchant stalls and pillory. Examples of unconverted later Gothic town halls include theWrocław Town Hall,the Old Town Hall in Toruń and town halls in Chojna, Gdańsk and Szczecin.[2][3][4]Onlythe Gothic towerofthe Ratusz town hallinKrakówhas survived.[5]The gothic town hall on the Old Town Market Square in Warsaw was demolished in 1820.

Houses

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Existing settlements received in the 13th and 14th centuries tracking new laws (usually based onMagdeburg Law). Urban area is usually divided grid of streets perpendicular to the plot by creating a chessboard layout. Residential buildings, in the upper reaches is still built of wood or timber-framed art. In order to prevent the transmission of fire during the fire, often the wall was increased at the border of two adjacent parcels and tracts of gable roof receives addressed to the agent. Facades of houses stepped or triangular peaks. Houses of rich burghers sometimes received in the form of a richer decor. More often it was a topic mimicking polychrome wall, and wimpergi tracery. An example of building in the Gothic style is the house of Copernicus in Torun, in Sandomierz Długosz House, oldest building of Jagiellonian University – Collegium Maius, building on ul. Łazienna 22 in Toruń.

Town walls and town gates

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The city walls surrounded, sometimes in place of the earlier shafts and such investment is carried out for many years, making frequent upgrades. Older consolidation often was increased. The sequence is often interrupted by walls tower. Cities sometimes receive a new, second belt walls (e.g., Wrocław, Toruń). Leading to the ornate gates of cities often preceded the late Gothic period barbakanami connected with them neck. First this form of defense on Polish soil was established in Toruń – Barbican Starotoruński of 1426, the best preserved in Poland barbican Barbican in Kraków. To this day preserved fragments of walls, of which most survived the gate, for example, inSzydłów,Sandomierz,KrakówSt. Florian's Gateand theKraków barbican.Significant parts of the walls have been preserved inStargard,Pyrzyce,Byczyna,Toruń. InChełmnoandPaczkówcity walls are preserved almost in its entirety.

Churches

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Gothic churches can be found all over Poland, especially in major cities of late medieval Poland, includingKraków,Wrocław,Gdańsk.TheSt. Mary's Churchin Gdańsk is the largest brick church in the world. The Pelplin Cathedral inPelplin,Pomeraniais one of the largest churches in Poland. Kraków'sSt. Mary's BasilicaandWawel Cathedralare among the most recognisable landmarks in all of Poland.

Other buildings

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  • St. George Manor, Gdańsk
    St. George Manor, Gdańsk
  • Great Mill, Gdańsk
    Great Mill, Gdańsk
  • Gothic Bridge on millrace, Kłodzko
    Gothic Bridge on millrace,Kłodzko
  • Arsenal, Wrocław
    Arsenal, Wrocław
  • Arsenal, Stargard
    Arsenal,Stargard
  • Palace Great Masters in Malbork
    Palace Great Masters in Malbork
  • Refectary in Malbork Castle
    Refectary in Malbork Castle
  • Wok's Tower, Prudnik
    Wok's Tower,Prudnik

See also

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References

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  1. ^Marek Strzala,Stroll through the historic Kazimierz area.Krakow Info.com(Internet Archive). RetrievedFebruary 13, 2014.
  2. ^Szlakiem Rynków i Ratuszy w PolscePTTK
  3. ^Elżbieta Zagłoba-Zygler,20 lat rajdu motorowego PTTK "Ratusze w Polsce""Gosciniec" Polskiego Towarzystwa Turystyczno-Krajoznawczego, PTTK
  4. ^Janusz Rosikoń,Ratusze w PolsceArchived2016-09-26 at theWayback MachineRosikon Press
  5. ^Kamil Janicki,Co się stało z krakowskim ratuszem?Ciekawostki turystyczne.
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