Medieval Wroclaw.
Sightseeng tour of Medieval Wroclaw better to start with Tymanski Island (Tymanski Ostrow - a medieval name of Churches’ Island), the oldest historical part of Wroclaw. The episcopal castel and cathedral were established here in 1000. It was the beginning of Wroclaw town. The castel was inhabited in the surroundings of St Cross Church and St Marcin Church. The last one was erected in XII century. Its present-day’s buildings coming from the beginning of XIV century. One of the town’s symbols is the pop John XXIII monument, which is located near the church.
We’ll start our jouney from here, through the Wroclaw town and its medieval architecture.
Following Swietokrzyska st we’ll get to the St Cross and St Bartolomiej Church, which was erected in the turn of the XIII – XIV cc. There is St John Nepomucen statue which was sculpted by J.J. Urbanski in 1973.
Going further along Katedralna st., we’ll see beautiful mansions, one of them is a seat of Wroclaw archbishop diocese, formerly Sufragans Palace, next we’ll see the monumental cathedral of St John the Baptist, one of the most beautiful and splendid Gothic cathedral in Europe. The present-day tample had two former ones. The first come from the middle of the X century, the next, from the second half of the XII century.
We couldn’t forget of the nearest old Later Roman Wroclaw church of St Idzi.
Welcome and see Archdiocese Museum with a lot of paintings, scultures, religious goldsmithery and Egyption mummy dates 325 BC. You’ll be able to see famous Henryk Book with a first Polish language word.
The excellent place to have a little rest during our tour is Wroclaw Botanical Garden and Nature Museum.
The next part of the tour is Sand Island (Wyspa Piaskowa) where from you’ll be able to get to the Tumski bridge. We couldn’t forget about Gothic Sts Peter and Paul Church, which is located just in front of the bridge.
Sand Island is surrounded by three boulevards: Wyszynski, Kulczynski and Wlostowic, there are Augustin Church and Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was found by Slask sovereign Peter Wlostowic. Vis a vis the church there is Salezjan sisters’ nursery school. On the Island you’ll find Cyrill, Methody and Ann Orthodox Church too.
Following the Wyszynski boulevard in Mlynska Island direction, you’ll find the oldest mill „Maria”, which is above 600 years old. You’ll be able to see other Odra islands from here: Island Bielarska and Island Slodowa. Small and big bridges help us to get there. Boulevard Kulczynski leads from Slodowa Island to Poniatowski bridge. Going through the bridge we should turn left to Dunikowski boulevard and see the monument, which keeping alive the memory of the dead on Eastern borderland.
Making this way towards, we’re passing Beautifull Art Academy and going to Polish Hill (Wzgorze Polskie), which was a bastion in the past. There is a view platform let us admire beautifull Tymanski Island and Sand Island’s panoramas. The next stop of our tour is the National Museum. Its oldest collections come from German museums, Wroclaw sacral buildings and some Lvov collections, which was passed by Ukrainian government in 1946.
Wolking through the green Slowacki park we’ll take a little rest before our further journey. There are two museums: Post and Communications Museum and Architecture Museum.
The next part of the tour is Panorama Of The Battle Of Raclawice. There is a oil paiting which had been making during the year from 1893 till 1894 by Jan Styk and Wojciech Kossak.
Going west along Slowackiego av., we’ll get to Dominikanski Palace, where one of the oldest Wroclaw Church is. The Church of St. Wojciech. At the church there is Bless Czeslaw chapel, which is cosidered to be the perl of baroque architecture. Domenican tample was the first parish church of the left shore town.
Passing one of the oldest Wroclaw market – Nowy Targ square we’re directing to Krasinski street. Along the street there is a preserved old fortification with a tower. At the end of the fortification you’ll find old Trade Hall from 1907, designed by Richard Plüddemann.
Going further and considering to the Trade Hall west side, we’ll get to the bishop Nankier’s square and see Greek Catholic church of St.Vincent. The building and monastry was found by Godly Henryk about 1240 for Franciscan order. Not far from the church there is the Ursulas Monestry founded by princess Ann, Henryk II widow. Inside the place you’ll find Wroclaw Piast Mausoleum and a toumbstone of Henryk VI sarcophagus. Henryk VI was the last sovereign of the Wroclaw Duchy.
Going through Ossolinski lane we’re passing Osslolinski Library. Where you’ll find old prints, manuscripts and maps, among other interesting collections, which came to Wroclaw from Lvov. Next streets directions we’re following are Grodzka and Szewska, where is the Church of St Maciej dates back to the middle of the XIII century.
Our next stop is the University square and Jesus Church built by Jesuits in 1689 – 1698. It’s a baroque church with beautiful sculptures and polychromy by K.Tausch and F.Mangoldt.
Close to the Church there is the Wroclaw University building. Former Jesuits council. There you should visit: Leopoldynski assembly hall, Oratorium Marianum and Mathematical tower, which offers a beautiful view of the Old Town.
Next, our tour leads to Wiezienna st., where you’ll find the XIV century prison. Going further, through Kotlarska, Ordanska st., we’re making for the Main Wroclaw Market Square. We’ll find the St Elithabeth Church on the north-east corner of the Market Square. The church was built at the turn of the XIV – XV cc. You’ll be able to admire a lot of sacred art monuments inside the church. So, finally we’re in the heart of Wroclaw - Main Wroclaw Market Square.
Main Wroclaw Market Square was marked out in the middle of the XIII century. It measures 212m x 175m. The Square is surrounded with historically and architecturally valuable tenement houses, which were practically destroyed during the II World War. Today, after the rebuilding, they look like it used to. The most valuable relic of the past, situated on the Square, is Gothic Town hall. Its tower has 66m. On the tower you’ll see town emblem from1536 and astronomical clock from 1580.
The Town Hall is a rare example of Gothic bourgeois architecture on an European scale. Inside you’ll find a Bourgeois Art’s Museum.
Well, we’re leaving Central Market Square and still continuing our journay. We’re going along Kurzy Targ street and in a couple of minutes we’ll see Mary Magdalena Church, which is a Wroclaw diocese cathedral of Polish Catholic Church. Its Gothic basilica from 1342. The basilica has perfect acoustics, and therefore annual concerts of Vratislavia Cantans festival take place here.
To get to our next stop we need back to Market Square and go along Swidnicka st., which will lead us to the Theatrical Square, where we’ll see Dolnoslaski Opera building dates back to the first middle of the XIX century.
Going through Theatrical Square we’ll get to the Corpus Christi Church. The first mantions of the Church come from the beginning of the XIV century, but present building dates back to the first middle of the XV centuty. At the Middle Ages it served defensive purposes. An interesting fact - the church has no tower, it’s not typical for Gothic style.
We should go back to Swidnicka st., and take another direction to Franciszkanska st., which is leading us to St Dorota street. There is an immense temple, which has 43m and it’s the biggest one in the town. The temple was founded by the emperor Charles IV (Karol IV).
Going along St. Dorota st., we’re passing neo-Gothic University Library. At the end of the street we should turn left to Kazimierz Wielki st. To the left, you’ll see Fryderycyjanski Royal Palace. Now it’s a town museum with exposition halls. Step by step our journey is finishing. We’re so close to Market Square, where you’ll be able to have a rest after our long journey. Have a nice day!
