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The culture of medieval Poland was closely linked to the Catholic Church and its involvement in the country's affairs, especially during the first centuries of the Polish state's history. Many of the oldest Polish customs and artifacts date from the Middle Ages, which in Poland lasted from the late 10th to late 15th century, and were followed by the Polish Renaissance.
The Christianization of the Kingdom of Poland led, as in the rest of Europe, to the supplementation of previous pagan Slavic mythology-based culture Polanie with the new Christian culture of the Kingdom of Poland under the Piast dynasty. [1] Around the 12th century, the ecclesiastical network in Poland was composed of about one thousand parishes grouped in eight dioceses. [1]
The new customs spread as the Church also acted as the state's educational system. [1] Church run schools with Latin trivium (grammar, rhetoric, dialectic) and quadrivium (mathematics, geometry, astronomy, and music) and was helped by various religious orders which established monasteries throughout the countryside. [1] By the end of the 13th century, over 300 monasteries existed in Poland, spreading Catholicism and Western traditions: for example, the first Benedictine monasteries built in the 11th century in Tyniec and Lubin spread new Western agricultural and industrial techniques. [1]
Another powerful tool employed by the Church was the skill of writing. The Church had the knowledge and the ability to make parchments, and scribes created and copied manuscripts and established libraries. [1] Thus the earliest examples of Polish literature were written in Latin. [2] Among them were the Gospels from Gniezno and Płock, Codex aureus Gnesnensis and Codex Aureus Pultoviensis , dating from around the late 11th century. [1] Other notable examples of early Polish books include the Bishop Ciołek's Latin Missal and Olbracht's Gradual. Also famous are the chronicles of Gallus Anonymus and Wincenty Kadłubek. [2]
While folk music did not disappear during this time, relatively little of the early Polish music is known. Musical instruments, commonly homemade (e.g., fiddles, lyres, lutes, zithers, and horns) were used. [1] The Gregorian chorales and monodic music appeared in Polish churches and monasteries at the end of the 11th century. [1]
The architecture of Poland was also transformed. Over one hundred buildings have survived which provide a testament to the popularity of the new, monumental style of Romanesque architecture. [1] The style was influenced by Cologne, particularly early on. [1] Among those is the Crypt of Saint Leonard at Wawel Hill in Kraków and the Cathedral of Płock, built in 1144. [1] Many similar churches from that era, usually round or square with semicircular apses, can be found throughout Poland, in towns like Ostrów Lednicki or Giecz. [1] Another example is the brick Church of St. Jacob in Sandomierz, founded in 1226 by Iwo Odrowąż and built by his nephew St. Jacek Odrowąż (its campanile however was built in early Gothic style in the 14th century). At the Cathedral in Gniezno is an important example of Romanesque art, the bronze Gniezno Doors (c. 1175), [1] which is recognized as the first major work of Polish art with a national theme. [1] Their relief depicts eighteen scenes of the life and death of Saint Adalbert. [1]
From the 13th century on the culture of Poland was increasingly affected by forces other than the Church, as the nonecclesiastical institutions begun to gain importance. [1] The 14th century also saw the important transition from the Piast dynasty to the Jagiellonian dynasty. [3] The schools prepared their students for careers not only in priesthood but also in law, diplomacy, and administration. [1] Cracow Academy (centuries later renamed to Jagiellonian University), one of the oldest universities in the world, was founded in 1364. [1] Polish law begun to develop as legal texts recorded laws in secular chancelleries. [1] Polish science also developed, as works of Polish scholars became known abroad. [1] Notable examples of Polish scholarly texts discussed in the Western Europe include a chronicle of popes and emperors by Martinus Polonus and the treatise on optics by Witelo. [1] By the end of the 14th century, over 18,000 students had been educated at the Cracow Academy. [1] The faculties of astronomy, law and theology were staffed with prominent scholars, for example, Stanisław of Skalbmierz, Paweł Włodkowic, Jan of Głogów, and Wojciech of Brudzew. [1] Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) developed new astronomical theories, bringing about a revolutionary change in the contemporary perception of the universe. [1]
The ties between Poland other countries also increased, as prospective students went abroad to University of Padua, University of Paris and other renown European academies. [1] This was strengthened by other similar trends, as Poles traveled abroad, and foreigners visited Poland. The royal and ducal courts, through diplomatic missions and alliance-forming intermarriage, absorbed foreign cultural influences. [1] Contacts between Polish royal court and those of neighbouring countries – Hungary, Bohemia, the Italian states, France, and the German States increased with time. [1] Poland was also affected by the process of German colonization (Ostsiedlung). [1] As German settlers migrated East, they brought various knowledge and customs (for example the Magdeburg laws). [1] Germans often settled in towns, and thus Polish urban culture became similar to that of the Western Europe. [1] Polish culture, influenced by the West, in turn radiated east, with one of the main consequences being the Polish-Lithuanian Union.
As in the West, Gothic architecture gained popularity in Poland, mostly due to the growing influence and wealth of the Church and the towns which became major sponsors of this new style. [1] Coupled with the significant economic development that occurred during the reign of Casimir III the Great, this resulted in a major transformation of Polish landscape, as hundreds of Gothic buildings rose throughout the country. The cathedrals of Kraków, Wrocław, Gniezno, and Poznań in Gothic style were built or rebuilt in the new style, as were hundreds of basilicas and churches, such as the St. Mary's Church, Krakow and the Collegiate Church in Sandomierz. Gothic secular buildings such as city halls also became numerous, for example in the new towns of Kazimierz and Wiślica. [1] Casimir also invested in improved defenses. City walls, other town fortifications and standalone castles were raised. Casimir ordered the construction of least 40 new castles, guarding strategically vital areas and communication lines—they were so numerous that there is an Eagle Nests Trail in modern Poland). Cracow Academy received its seat, the Collegium Maius. [1]
Architecture was not the only area of arts that boomed at that time. The patronage of wealthy and influential individuals, from kings through the nobility, as well as clergymen and town patricians, allowed various artists to create masterpieces. [1] For example, Grzegorz of Sanok, Archbishop of Lwów, a poet himself, supported numerous scholars and writers, such as Filip Callimachus from Tuscany, who became a tutor to King Casimir's sons, and a professor at the Jagiellonian University. [1] Buildings were adorned with gold and silver articles, paintings, stained glass windows, stone and wood sculptures, and textiles. Notable monuments include the sarcophagus of Casimir the Great in the Wawel Cathedral, the altar of St. Catherine's Church in Kraków by Mikolaj Haberschrack, the stained glass windows of Saint Nicholas's Church, Toruń, the reliquary for the head of Saint Stanisław, and the chasuble from the benefaction of Piotr Kmita. Byzantine art was also influential, represented in the frescoes of the Trinity Chapel in Lublin, and of Italian art in the Franciscan monastery in Kraków. [1] One of the greatest examples of Gothic art in Poland are the works of Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz), who came from Nuremberg to Kraków in 1477, staying there till his death twenty years later. [1] His wooden altar, with hundreds of small figurines, has been described as "one of the crowning achievements of medieval sculpture." [1]
The origins of Polish music can be traced as far back as the 13th century. Manuscripts from that period have been found in Stary Sącz, containing polyphonic compositions related to the Parisian Notre Dame School. Liturgical and canonical songs, hymns and carols were created. [2] Other early compositions, such as the melody of Bogurodzica , may also date back to this period. [2] One of the most notable Polish composers of that era was Mikolaj z Radomia, author of polyphonic music. [2] He lived in the 15th century and spent much of his life at the court of king Władysław Jagiełło. [1]
Veit Stoss was a leading German sculptor, mostly working with wood, whose career covered the transition between the late Gothic and the Northern Renaissance. His style emphasized pathos and emotion, helped by his virtuoso carving of billowing drapery; it has been called "late Gothic Baroque". He had a large workshop, and in addition to his own works there are a number by pupils. He is best known for the altarpiece in St. Mary's Basilica in Kraków, Poland.
Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, about 50 kilometres east of Poznań. Its population in 2021 was 66,769, making it the sixth-largest city in the Greater Poland Voivodeship. One of the Piast dynasty's chief cities, it was the first historical capital of Poland in the 10th century and early 11th century, and it was mentioned in 10th-century sources, possibly including the Dagome Iudex, as the capital of Piast Poland.
The House of Piast was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. The first documented Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I. The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of King Casimir III the Great.
Władysław I Łokietek, in English known as the "Elbow-high" or Ladislaus the Short, was King of Poland from 1320 to 1333, and duke of several of the provinces and principalities in the preceding years. He was a member of the royal Piast dynasty, the son of Duke Casimir I of Kuyavia, and great-grandson of High-Duke Casimir II the Just.
Poland is a part of the global tourism market with constantly increasing number of visitors. Tourism in Poland contributes to the country's overall economy. The most popular cities are Kraków, Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Poznań, Szczecin, Lublin, Toruń, Zakopane, the Salt Mine in Wieliczka and the historic site of Auschwitz – a German Nazi concentration camp in Oświęcim. The best recreational destinations include Poland's Masurian Lake District, Baltic Sea coast, Tatra Mountains, Sudetes and Białowieża Forest. Poland's main tourist offers consist of sightseeing within cities, historical monuments, natural monuments, business trips, agrotourism, bicycle touring, qualified tourism, mountain hiking (trekking) and climbing among others.
Łowicz is a town in central Poland with 27,436 inhabitants (2021). It is situated in the Łódź Voivodeship. Together with a nearby station of Bednary, Łowicz is a major rail junction of central Poland, where the line from Warsaw splits into two directions—towards Poznań, and Łódź. Also, the station Łowicz Main is connected through a secondary-importance line with Skierniewice.
Sandomierz is a historic town in south-eastern Poland with 23,863 inhabitants, situated on the Vistula River near its confluence with the San, in the Sandomierz Basin. It has been part of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since its transfer from the Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship in 1999. It is the capital of Sandomierz County. Sandomierz is known for its preserved Old Town, a major cultural and tourist attraction which the President of Poland declared a National Monument of Poland in 2017.
Saint Mary's Basilica is a Brick Gothic church adjacent to the Main Market Square in Kraków, Poland. Built in the 14th century, its foundations date back to the early 13th century and serve as one of the best examples of Polish Gothic architecture. Standing 80 m (262 ft) tall, it is particularly famous for its wooden altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz). Some of its monumental polychrome murals were designed by Poland's leading history painter, Jan Matejko (1838–1893). In 1978 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside the Historic Centre of Kraków.
Wincenty Kadłubek was a Polish Catholic prelate and professed Cistercian who served as the Bishop of Kraków from 1208 until his resignation in 1218. His episcopal mission was to reform the diocesan priests to ensure their holiness and invigorate the faithful and cultivate greater participation in ecclesial affairs on their part. Wincenty was much more than just a bishop; he was a leading scholar in Poland from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. He was also a lawyer, historian, church reformer, monk, magister, and the father of Polish culture and national identity.
The Wawel Royal Castle and the Wawel Hill on which it sits constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in Poland. A fortified residency on the Vistula River in Kraków, it was established on the orders of King Casimir III the Great and enlarged over the centuries into a number of structures around an Italian-styled courtyard. It represents nearly all European architectural styles of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.
Kraków Old Town is the historic central district of Kraków, Poland. It is one of the most famous old districts in Poland today and was the centre of Poland's political life from 1038 until King Sigismund III Vasa relocated his court to Warsaw in 1596.
The Gothic architecture arrived in Poland in the first half of the 13th century with the arrival of the Dominican and Franciscan orders. The first elements of the new style are evident in the foundation of the Dominican Trinity church in Kraków (1226–1250), built by Bishop Iwo Odrowąż. Rebuilding of the Wrocław Cathedral, started in 1244, was another early manifestation of the Gothic style. The earliest building in Poland built entirely in the Gothic style is the chapel of St. Hedwig in Trzebnica (1268–1269), on the grounds of a Cistercian monastery.
The Polish Baroque lasted from the early 17th to the mid-18th century. As with Baroque style elsewhere in Europe, Poland's Baroque emphasized the richness and triumphant power of contemporary art forms. In contrast to the previous, Renaissance style which sought to depict the beauty and harmony of nature, Baroque artists strove to create their own vision of the world. The result was manifold, regarded by some critics as grand and dramatic, but sometimes also chaotic and disharmonious and tinged with affectation and religious exaltation, thus reflecting the turbulent times of the 17th-century Europe.
The Renaissance in Poland lasted from the late 15th to the late 16th century and is widely considered to have been the Golden Age of Polish culture. Ruled by the Jagiellonian dynasty, the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland actively participated in the broad European Renaissance. The multinational Polish state experienced a period of cultural growth thanks in part to a century without major wars, aside from conflicts in the sparsely-populated eastern and southern borderlands. The Reformation spread peacefully throughout the country, and living conditions improved, cities grew, and exports of agricultural products enriched the population, especially the nobility (szlachta), who gained dominance in the new political system of Golden Liberty.
Casimir II the Just was a Lesser Polish Duke of Wiślica from 1166 to 1173, and of Sandomierz after 1173. He became ruler over the Polish Seniorate Province at Kraków and thereby High Duke of Poland in 1177; a position he held until his death, though interrupted once by his elder brother and predecessor Mieszko III. In 1186 Casimir also inherited the Duchy of Masovia from his nephew Leszek, becoming the progenitor of the Masovian branch of the royal Piast dynasty, and great-grandfather of the later Polish king Władysław I the Elbow-high. The honorific title "the Just" was not contemporary and first appeared in the 16th century.
Władysław Oporowski (1395–1453) was a Polish medieval political and religious leader. Deputy Chancellor of Poland (1429–1434), Bishop of Kujawy (1434–1449), archbishop of Gniezno and primate of Poland (1449–1453). It is recognized that he was a much better diplomat and politician than church official.
The architecture of Poland includes modern and historical monuments of architectural and historical importance.
Romanesque architecture in Poland dates back to the 11th century to the reign of Casimir I the Restorer. It was developed in and ranging approximately from the 11th century until well into the half 13th century and it was succeeded by Polish Gothic architecture.
Gothic Revival architecture was developed in Poland mainly after the country was partitioned between Prussia, Austria and Russia. It was popular especially in the Prussian partition of Poland. Gothic Revival architecture In Poland often has certain features, derived from the characteristic Polish Brick Gothic architecture style. Churches, schools, post offices, government buildings and palaces were often built in this style. Notable authors of the Polish Gothic Revival style are Jan Sas Zubrzycki, Feliks Księżarski, Józef Pius Dziekoński, and Enrico Marconi.
