Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Congress of Gniezno

Gniezno was an important pagan cult center and around 940 became one of the main fortresses of the early Piast rulers. It may be, that the Lech Hill could have been the burial place of rulers even before the baptism of Mieszko I. After the adoption of Christianity by Mieszko I, his son Bolesław I deposited the remains of Saint Adalbert in a church. The Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000, during which Duke Bolesław I the Brave, received Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. They celebrated the foundation of the archbishopric in Gniezno. In 1025 Bolesław I became the first king of Poland. Until 1320 the city was the coronation place of Polish kings. Gniezno was plundered and destroyed in 1038 by Bohemian troops and again by the Teutonic Knights' invasion in 1331. The city was soon rebuilt during the reign of King Casimir III. Trade flourished, four annual fairs took place and Gniezno was one of the major cities of Poland until the mid-17th century. It was devastated during the Swedish invasions and by a plague in 1708 -1710. All this caused depopulation and economic decline, but the city was soon revived during the 18th century. Gniezno was annexed by Prussia in 1793 and renamed Gnesen. After the invasion of Poland, Gniezno became part of the German Reich in 1939. In January 1945, the city was occupied by the Red Army and rejoined Poland after the end of World War II. The German inhabitants fled or were expelled. - A church here existed already n the 9th century. This church was altered and substantially enlarged over time. After the Bohemian troops in 1038 had destroyed the cathedral and stolen the bones of St. Wojciech the cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style and consecrated in 1064. In 1104 a synod took place here with the participation of a legate of the Holy See, concerning the recovery and future preservation of Wojciech's relics. In 1127 the recovery and preservation of the holy head of Wojciech in the cathedral were celebrated. In 1331, the Teutonic Knights pillaged and destroyed the cathedral. Ten years later a Gothic church was built. Casimir III the Great greatly contributed to the reconstruction of Gniezno. At the end of the 14th century, the construction of the chancel and large nave was completed. The Gniezno Doors, a pair of bronze doors, are the most important works of art here. They are decorated with eighteen bas-relief scenes from the life of St. Adalbert, whose remains had been purchased for their weight in gold and brought back to the cathedral. The doors were made about 1175 and are one of the most important works of Romanesque art in Poland. The door is said to have been created by artists from the Meuse area and cast in Gniezno itself. However, there are also speculations that there is a connection with the Hildesheim Cathedral; because the scenes of Bernward's door in the Hildesheim Cathedral have a comparable arrangement, which is rare on medieval picture doors. The left wing is made of a single piece of gunmetal bronze and measures 328 × 84 × 1.5 centimeters. The right wing has almost the same dimensions, but was cast in 24 separate pieces and only then assembled. The 18 pscenes thematically follow the legends about the life of Adalbert. They are evenly distributed on both wings of the door. The cycle begins at the bottom left and runs on the left wing from bottom to top, on the right wing vice versa from top to bottom. The body of the martyr is solemnly transferred to Gniezno. This transfer ("translatio") always plays a major role in the creation of myths.

Gniezno was an important pagan cult center and around 940 became one of the main fortresses of the early Piast rulers. It may be, that the Lech Hill could have been the burial place of rulers even before the baptism of Mieszko I. After the adoption of Christianity by Mieszko I, his son Bolesław I deposited the remains of Saint Adalbert in a church. The Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000, during which Duke Bolesław I the Brave, received Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. They celebrated the foundation of the archbishopric in Gniezno. In 1025 Bolesław I became the first king of Poland. Until 1320 the city was the coronation place of Polish kings. Gniezno was plundered and destroyed in 1038 by Bohemian troops and again by the Teutonic Knights' invasion in 1331. The city was soon rebuilt during the reign of King Casimir III. Trade flourished, four annual fairs took place and Gniezno was one of the major cities of Poland until the mid-17th century. It was devastated during the Swedish invasions and by a plague in 1708 -1710. All this caused depopulation and economic decline, but the city was soon revived during the 18th century. Gniezno was annexed by Prussia in 1793 and renamed Gnesen. After the invasion of Poland, Gniezno became part of the German Reich in 1939. In January 1945, the city was occupied by the Red Army and rejoined Poland after the end of World War II. The German inhabitants fled or were expelled. - A church here existed already n the 9th century. This church was altered and substantially enlarged over time. After the Bohemian troops in 1038 had destroyed the cathedral and stolen the bones of St. Wojciech the cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style and consecrated in 1064. In 1104 a synod took place here with the participation of a legate of the Holy See, concerning the recovery and future preservation of Wojciech's relics. In 1127 the recovery and preservation of the holy head of Wojciech in the cathedral were celebrated. In 1331, the Teutonic Knights pillaged and destroyed the cathedral. Ten years later a Gothic church was built. Casimir III the Great greatly contributed to the reconstruction of Gniezno. At the end of the 14th century, the construction of the chancel and large nave was completed. The Gniezno Doors, a pair of bronze doors, are the most important works of art here. They are decorated with eighteen bas-relief scenes from the life of St. Adalbert, whose remains had been purchased for their weight in gold and brought back to the cathedral. The doors were made about 1175 and are one of the most important works of Romanesque art in Poland. The door is said to have been created by artists from the Meuse area and cast in Gniezno itself. However, there are also speculations that there is a connection with the Hildesheim Cathedral; because the scenes of Bernward's door in the Hildesheim Cathedral have a comparable arrangement, which is rare on medieval picture doors. The left wing is made of a single piece of gunmetal bronze and measures 328 × 84 × 1.5 centimeters. The right wing has almost the same dimensions, but was cast in 24 separate pieces and only then assembled. The 18 pscenes thematically follow the legends about the life of Adalbert. They are evenly distributed on both wings of the door. The cycle begins at the bottom left and runs on the left wing from bottom to top, on the right wing vice versa from top to bottom. Duke Boleslaw buys the body of the missionary. Adalbert's body ís weighed out in gold.

Gniezno was an important pagan cult center and around 940 became one of the main fortresses of the early Piast rulers. It may be, that the Lech Hill could have been the burial place of rulers even before the baptism of Mieszko I. After the adoption of Christianity by Mieszko I, his son Bolesław I deposited the remains of Saint Adalbert in a church. The Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000, during which Duke Bolesław I the Brave, received Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. They celebrated the foundation of the archbishopric in Gniezno. In 1025 Bolesław I became the first king of Poland. Until 1320 the city was the coronation place of Polish kings. Gniezno was plundered and destroyed in 1038 by Bohemian troops and again by the Teutonic Knights' invasion in 1331. The city was soon rebuilt during the reign of King Casimir III. Trade flourished, four annual fairs took place and Gniezno was one of the major cities of Poland until the mid-17th century. It was devastated during the Swedish invasions and by a plague in 1708 -1710. All this caused depopulation and economic decline, but the city was soon revived during the 18th century. Gniezno was annexed by Prussia in 1793 and renamed Gnesen. After the invasion of Poland, Gniezno became part of the German Reich in 1939. In January 1945, the city was occupied by the Red Army and rejoined Poland after the end of World War II. The German inhabitants fled or were expelled. - A church here existed already n the 9th century. This church was altered and substantially enlarged over time. After the Bohemian troops in 1038 had destroyed the cathedral and stolen the bones of St. Wojciech the cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style and consecrated in 1064. In 1104 a synod took place here with the participation of a legate of the Holy See, concerning the recovery and future preservation of Wojciech's relics. In 1127 the recovery and preservation of the holy head of Wojciech in the cathedral were celebrated. In 1331, the Teutonic Knights pillaged and destroyed the cathedral. Ten years later a Gothic church was built. Casimir III the Great greatly contributed to the reconstruction of Gniezno. At the end of the 14th century, the construction of the chancel and large nave was completed. The Gniezno Doors, a pair of bronze doors, are the most important works of art here. They are decorated with eighteen bas-relief scenes from the life of St. Adalbert, whose remains had been purchased for their weight in gold and brought back to the cathedral. The doors were made about 1175 and are one of the most important works of Romanesque art in Poland. The door is said to have been created by artists from the Meuse area and cast in Gniezno itself. However, there are also speculations that there is a connection with the Hildesheim Cathedral; because the scenes of Bernward's door in the Hildesheim Cathedral have a comparable arrangement, which is rare on medieval picture doors. The left wing is made of a single piece of gunmetal bronze and measures 328 × 84 × 1.5 centimeters. The right wing has almost the same dimensions, but was cast in 24 separate pieces and only then assembled. The 18 pscenes thematically follow the legends about the life of Adalbert. They are evenly distributed on both wings of the door. The cycle begins at the bottom left and runs on the left wing from bottom to top, on the right wing vice versa from top to bottom. The martyrdom of Adalbert. Below, the head of Adalbert is impaled on a stake.

Gniezno was an important pagan cult center and around 940 became one of the main fortresses of the early Piast rulers. It may be, that the Lech Hill could have been the burial place of rulers even before the baptism of Mieszko I. After the adoption of Christianity by Mieszko I, his son Bolesław I deposited the remains of Saint Adalbert in a church. The Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000, during which Duke Bolesław I the Brave, received Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. They celebrated the foundation of the archbishopric in Gniezno. In 1025 Bolesław I became the first king of Poland. Until 1320 the city was the coronation place of Polish kings. Gniezno was plundered and destroyed in 1038 by Bohemian troops and again by the Teutonic Knights' invasion in 1331. The city was soon rebuilt during the reign of King Casimir III. Trade flourished, four annual fairs took place and Gniezno was one of the major cities of Poland until the mid-17th century. It was devastated during the Swedish invasions and by a plague in 1708 -1710. All this caused depopulation and economic decline, but the city was soon revived during the 18th century. Gniezno was annexed by Prussia in 1793 and renamed Gnesen. After the invasion of Poland, Gniezno became part of the German Reich in 1939. In January 1945, the city was occupied by the Red Army and rejoined Poland after the end of World War II. The German inhabitants fled or were expelled. - A church here existed already n the 9th century. This church was altered and substantially enlarged over time. After the Bohemian troops in 1038 had destroyed the cathedral and stolen the bones of St. Wojciech the cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style and consecrated in 1064. In 1104 a synod took place here with the participation of a legate of the Holy See, concerning the recovery and future preservation of Wojciech's relics. In 1127 the recovery and preservation of the holy head of Wojciech in the cathedral were celebrated. In 1331, the Teutonic Knights pillaged and destroyed the cathedral. Ten years later a Gothic church was built. Casimir III the Great greatly contributed to the reconstruction of Gniezno. At the end of the 14th century, the construction of the chancel and large nave was completed. The Gniezno Doors, a pair of bronze doors, are the most important works of art here. They are decorated with eighteen bas-relief scenes from the life of St. Adalbert, whose remains had been purchased for their weight in gold and brought back to the cathedral. The doors were made about 1175 and are one of the most important works of Romanesque art in Poland. The door is said to have been created by artists from the Meuse area and cast in Gniezno itself. However, there are also speculations that there is a connection with the Hildesheim Cathedral; because the scenes of Bernward's door in the Hildesheim Cathedral have a comparable arrangement, which is rare on medieval picture doors. The left wing is made of a single piece of gunmetal bronze and measures 328 × 84 × 1.5 centimeters. The right wing has almost the same dimensions, but was cast in 24 separate pieces and only then assembled. The 18 pscenes thematically follow the legends about the life of Adalbert. They are evenly distributed on both wings of the door. The cycle begins at the bottom left and runs on the left wing from bottom to top, on the right wing vice versa from top to bottom. After landing by ship with the pagan Prussians, he begins his missionary work.

Gniezno was an important pagan cult center and around 940 became one of the main fortresses of the early Piast rulers. It may be, that the Lech Hill could have been the burial place of rulers even before the baptism of Mieszko I. After the adoption of Christianity by Mieszko I, his son Bolesław I deposited the remains of Saint Adalbert in a church. The Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000, during which Duke Bolesław I the Brave, received Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. They celebrated the foundation of the archbishopric in Gniezno. In 1025 Bolesław I became the first king of Poland. Until 1320 the city was the coronation place of Polish kings. Gniezno was plundered and destroyed in 1038 by Bohemian troops and again by the Teutonic Knights' invasion in 1331. The city was soon rebuilt during the reign of King Casimir III. Trade flourished, four annual fairs took place and Gniezno was one of the major cities of Poland until the mid-17th century. It was devastated during the Swedish invasions and by a plague in 1708 -1710. All this caused depopulation and economic decline, but the city was soon revived during the 18th century. Gniezno was annexed by Prussia in 1793 and renamed Gnesen. After the invasion of Poland, Gniezno became part of the German Reich in 1939. In January 1945, the city was occupied by the Red Army and rejoined Poland after the end of World War II. The German inhabitants fled or were expelled. - A church here existed already n the 9th century. This church was altered and substantially enlarged over time. After the Bohemian troops in 1038 had destroyed the cathedral and stolen the bones of St. Wojciech the cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style and consecrated in 1064. In 1104 a synod took place here with the participation of a legate of the Holy See, concerning the recovery and future preservation of Wojciech's relics. In 1127 the recovery and preservation of the holy head of Wojciech in the cathedral were celebrated. In 1331, the Teutonic Knights pillaged and destroyed the cathedral. Ten years later a Gothic church was built. Casimir III the Great greatly contributed to the reconstruction of Gniezno. At the end of the 14th century, the construction of the chancel and large nave was completed. The Gniezno Doors, a pair of bronze doors, are the most important works of art here. They are decorated with eighteen bas-relief scenes from the life of St. Adalbert, whose remains had been purchased for their weight in gold and brought back to the cathedral. The doors were made about 1175 and are one of the most important works of Romanesque art in Poland. The door is said to have been created by artists from the Meuse area and cast in Gniezno itself. However, there are also speculations that there is a connection with the Hildesheim Cathedral; because the scenes of Bernward's door in the Hildesheim Cathedral have a comparable arrangement, which is rare on medieval picture doors. The left wing is made of a single piece of gunmetal bronze and measures 328 × 84 × 1.5 centimeters. The right wing has almost the same dimensions, but was cast in 24 separate pieces and only then assembled. The 18 pscenes thematically follow the legends about the life of Adalbert. They are evenly distributed on both wings of the door. The cycle begins at the bottom left and runs on the left wing from bottom to top, on the right wing vice versa from top to bottom. Seen here is Adalbert's healing a possessed person. The devil is leaving from the mouth of the man.

Gniezno was an important pagan cult center and around 940 became one of the main fortresses of the early Piast rulers. It may be, that the Lech Hill could have been the burial place of rulers even before the baptism of Mieszko I. After the adoption of Christianity by Mieszko I, his son Bolesław I deposited the remains of Saint Adalbert in a church. The Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000, during which Duke Bolesław I the Brave, received Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. They celebrated the foundation of the archbishopric in Gniezno. In 1025 Bolesław I became the first king of Poland. Until 1320 the city was the coronation place of Polish kings. Gniezno was plundered and destroyed in 1038 by Bohemian troops and again by the Teutonic Knights' invasion in 1331. The city was soon rebuilt during the reign of King Casimir III. Trade flourished, four annual fairs took place and Gniezno was one of the major cities of Poland until the mid-17th century. It was devastated during the Swedish invasions and by a plague in 1708 -1710. All this caused depopulation and economic decline, but the city was soon revived during the 18th century. Gniezno was annexed by Prussia in 1793 and renamed Gnesen. After the invasion of Poland, Gniezno became part of the German Reich in 1939. In January 1945, the city was occupied by the Red Army and rejoined Poland after the end of World War II. The German inhabitants fled or were expelled. - A church here existed already n the 9th century. This church was altered and substantially enlarged over time. After the Bohemian troops in 1038 had destroyed the cathedral and stolen the bones of St. Wojciech the cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style and consecrated in 1064. In 1104 a synod took place here with the participation of a legate of the Holy See, concerning the recovery and future preservation of Wojciech's relics. In 1127 the recovery and preservation of the holy head of Wojciech in the cathedral were celebrated. In 1331, the Teutonic Knights pillaged and destroyed the cathedral. Ten years later a Gothic church was built. Casimir III the Great greatly contributed to the reconstruction of Gniezno. At the end of the 14th century, the construction of the chancel and large nave was completed. The Gniezno Doors, a pair of bronze doors, are the most important works of art here. They are decorated with eighteen bas-relief scenes from the life of St. Adalbert, whose remains had been purchased for their weight in gold and brought back to the cathedral. The doors were made about 1175 and are one of the most important works of Romanesque art in Poland. The door is said to have been created by artists from the Meuse area and cast in Gniezno itself. However, there are also speculations that there is a connection with the Hildesheim Cathedral; because the scenes of Bernward's door in the Hildesheim Cathedral have a comparable arrangement, which is rare on medieval picture doors. The left wing is made of a single piece of gunmetal bronze and measures 328 × 84 × 1.5 centimeters. The right wing has almost the same dimensions, but was cast in 24 separate pieces and only then assembled. The 18 pscenes thematically follow the legends about the life of Adalbert. They are evenly distributed on both wings of the door. The cycle begins at the bottom left and runs on the left wing from bottom to top, on the right wing vice versa from top to bottom. Seen here is Adalbert's investiture by Otto II in Verona.

Gniezno was an important pagan cult center and around 940 became one of the main fortresses of the early Piast rulers. It may be, that the Lech Hill could have been the burial place of rulers even before the baptism of Mieszko I. After the adoption of Christianity by Mieszko I, his son Bolesław I deposited the remains of Saint Adalbert in a church. The Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000, during which Duke Bolesław I the Brave, received Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. They celebrated the foundation of the archbishopric in Gniezno. In 1025 Bolesław I became the first king of Poland. Until 1320 the city was the coronation place of Polish kings. Gniezno was plundered and destroyed in 1038 by Bohemian troops and again by the Teutonic Knights' invasion in 1331. The city was soon rebuilt during the reign of King Casimir III. Trade flourished, four annual fairs took place and Gniezno was one of the major cities of Poland until the mid-17th century. It was devastated during the Swedish invasions and by a plague in 1708 -1710. All this caused depopulation and economic decline, but the city was soon revived during the 18th century. Gniezno was annexed by Prussia in 1793 and renamed Gnesen. After the invasion of Poland, Gniezno became part of the German Reich in 1939. In January 1945, the city was occupied by the Red Army and rejoined Poland after the end of World War II. The German inhabitants fled or were expelled. - A church here existed already n the 9th century. This church was altered and substantially enlarged over time. After the Bohemian troops in 1038 had destroyed the cathedral and stolen the bones of St. Wojciech the cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style and consecrated in 1064. In 1104 a synod took place here with the participation of a legate of the Holy See, concerning the recovery and future preservation of Wojciech's relics. In 1127 the recovery and preservation of the holy head of Wojciech in the cathedral were celebrated. In 1331, the Teutonic Knights pillaged and destroyed the cathedral. Ten years later a Gothic church was built. Casimir III the Great greatly contributed to the reconstruction of Gniezno. At the end of the 14th century, the construction of the chancel and large nave was completed. The Gniezno Doors, a pair of bronze doors, are the most important works of art here. They are decorated with eighteen bas-relief scenes from the life of St. Adalbert, whose remains had been purchased for their weight in gold and brought back to the cathedral. The doors were made about 1175 and are one of the most important works of Romanesque art in Poland. The door is said to have been created by artists from the Meuse area and cast in Gniezno itself. However, there are also speculations that there is a connection with the Hildesheim Cathedral; because the scenes of Bernward's door in the Hildesheim Cathedral have a comparable arrangement, which is rare on medieval picture doors. The left wing is made of a single piece of gunmetal bronze and measures 328 × 84 × 1.5 centimeters. The right wing has almost the same dimensions, but was cast in 24 separate pieces and only then assembled. The 18 pscenes thematically follow the legends about the life of Adalbert. They are evenly distributed on both wings of the door. The cycle begins at the bottom left and runs on the left wing from bottom to top, on the right wing vice versa from top to bottom. Seen here is the arrival at the cathedral school in Magdeburg, where he got his education.

Gniezno was an important pagan cult center and around 940 became one of the main fortresses of the early Piast rulers. It may be, that the Lech Hill could have been the burial place of rulers even before the baptism of Mieszko I. After the adoption of Christianity by Mieszko I, his son Bolesław I deposited the remains of Saint Adalbert in a church. The Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000, during which Duke Bolesław I the Brave, received Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. They celebrated the foundation of the archbishopric in Gniezno. In 1025 Bolesław I became the first king of Poland. Until 1320 the city was the coronation place of Polish kings. Gniezno was plundered and destroyed in 1038 by Bohemian troops and again by the Teutonic Knights' invasion in 1331. The city was soon rebuilt during the reign of King Casimir III. Trade flourished, four annual fairs took place and Gniezno was one of the major cities of Poland until the mid-17th century. It was devastated during the Swedish invasions and by a plague in 1708 -1710. All this caused depopulation and economic decline, but the city was soon revived during the 18th century. Gniezno was annexed by Prussia in 1793 and renamed Gnesen. After the invasion of Poland, Gniezno became part of the German Reich in 1939. In January 1945, the city was occupied by the Red Army and rejoined Poland after the end of World War II. The German inhabitants fled or were expelled. - A church here existed already n the 9th century. This church was altered and substantially enlarged over time. After the Bohemian troops in 1038 had destroyed the cathedral and stolen the bones of St. Wojciech the cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style and consecrated in 1064. In 1104 a synod took place here with the participation of a legate of the Holy See, concerning the recovery and future preservation of Wojciech's relics. In 1127 the recovery and preservation of the holy head of Wojciech in the cathedral were celebrated. In 1331, the Teutonic Knights pillaged and destroyed the cathedral. Ten years later a Gothic church was built. Casimir III the Great greatly contributed to the reconstruction of Gniezno. At the end of the 14th century, the construction of the chancel and large nave was completed. The Gniezno Doors, a pair of bronze doors, are the most important works of art here. They are decorated with eighteen bas-relief scenes from the life of St. Adalbert, whose remains had been purchased for their weight in gold and brought back to the cathedral. The doors were made about 1175 and are one of the most important works of Romanesque art in Poland. The door is said to have been created by artists from the Meuse area and cast in Gniezno itself. However, there are also speculations that there is a connection with the Hildesheim Cathedral; because the scenes of Bernward's door in the Hildesheim Cathedral have a comparable arrangement, which is rare on medieval picture doors. The left wing is made of a single piece of gunmetal bronze and measures 328 × 84 × 1.5 centimeters. The right wing has almost the same dimensions, but was cast in 24 separate pieces and only then assembled. The 18 pscenes thematically follow the legends about the life of Adalbert. They are evenly distributed on both wings of the door. The cycle begins at the bottom left and runs on the left wing from bottom to top, on the right wing vice versa from top to bottom. The first scene shows the birth and baptism. Note the wonderful rinceau, populated with strange, mythical creatures.

Gniezno was an important pagan cult center and around 940 became one of the main fortresses of the early Piast rulers. It may be, that the Lech Hill could have been the burial place of rulers even before the baptism of Mieszko I. After the adoption of Christianity by Mieszko I, his son Bolesław I deposited the remains of Saint Adalbert in a church. The Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000, during which Duke Bolesław I the Brave, received Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. They celebrated the foundation of the archbishopric in Gniezno. In 1025 Bolesław I became the first king of Poland. Until 1320 the city was the coronation place of Polish kings. Gniezno was plundered and destroyed in 1038 by Bohemian troops and again by the Teutonic Knights' invasion in 1331. The city was soon rebuilt during the reign of King Casimir III. Trade flourished, four annual fairs took place and Gniezno was one of the major cities of Poland until the mid-17th century. It was devastated during the Swedish invasions and by a plague in 1708 -1710. All this caused depopulation and economic decline, but the city was soon revived during the 18th century. Gniezno was annexed by Prussia in 1793 and renamed Gnesen. After the invasion of Poland, Gniezno became part of the German Reich in 1939. In January 1945, the city was occupied by the Red Army and rejoined Poland after the end of World War II. The German inhabitants fled or were expelled. - A church here existed already n the 9th century. This church was altered and substantially enlarged over time. After the Bohemian troops in 1038 had destroyed the cathedral and stolen the bones of St. Wojciech the cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style and consecrated in 1064. In 1104 a synod took place here with the participation of a legate of the Holy See, concerning the recovery and future preservation of Wojciech's relics. In 1127 the recovery and preservation of the holy head of Wojciech in the cathedral were celebrated. In 1331, the Teutonic Knights pillaged and destroyed the cathedral. Ten years later a Gothic church was built. Casimir III the Great greatly contributed to the reconstruction of Gniezno. At the end of the 14th century, the construction of the chancel and large nave was completed. The Gniezno Doors, a pair of bronze doors, are the most important works of art here. They are decorated with eighteen bas-relief scenes from the life of St. Adalbert, whose remains had been purchased for their weight in gold and brought back to the cathedral. The doors were made about 1175 and are one of the most important works of Romanesque art in Poland. The door is said to have been created by artists from the Meuse area and cast in Gniezno itself. However, there are also speculations that there is a connection with the Hildesheim Cathedral; because the scenes of Bernward's door in the Hildesheim Cathedral have a comparable arrangement, which is rare on medieval picture doors. The left wing is made of a single piece of gunmetal bronze and measures 328 × 84 × 1.5 centimeters. The right wing has almost the same dimensions, but was cast in 24 separate pieces and only then assembled. The 18 pscenes thematically follow the legends about the life of Adalbert. They are evenly distributed on both wings of the door. The cycle begins at the bottom left and runs on the left wing from bottom to top, on the right wing vice versa from top to bottom.

Gniezno was an important pagan cult center and around 940 became one of the main fortresses of the early Piast rulers. It may be, that the Lech Hill could have been the burial place of rulers even before the baptism of Mieszko I. After the adoption of Christianity by Mieszko I, his son Bolesław I deposited the remains of Saint Adalbert in a church. The Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000, during which Duke Bolesław I the Brave, received Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. They celebrated the foundation of the archbishopric in Gniezno. In 1025 Bolesław I became the first king of Poland. Until 1320 the city was the coronation place of Polish kings. Gniezno was plundered and destroyed in 1038 by Bohemian troops and again by the Teutonic Knights' invasion in 1331. The city was soon rebuilt during the reign of King Casimir III. Trade flourished, four annual fairs took place and Gniezno was one of the major cities of Poland until the mid-17th century. It was devastated during the Swedish invasions and by a plague in 1708 -1710. All this caused depopulation and economic decline, but the city was soon revived during the 18th century. Gniezno was annexed by Prussia in 1793 and renamed Gnesen. After the invasion of Poland, Gniezno became part of the German Reich in 1939. In January 1945, the city was occupied by the Red Army and rejoined Poland after the end of World War II. The German inhabitants fled or were expelled. - A church here existed already n the 9th century. This church was altered and substantially enlarged over time. After the Bohemian troops in 1038 had destroyed the cathedral and stolen the bones of St. Wojciech the cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style and consecrated in 1064. In 1104 a synod took place here with the participation of a legate of the Holy See, concerning the recovery and future preservation of Wojciech's relics. In 1127 the recovery and preservation of the holy head of Wojciech in the cathedral were celebrated. In 1331, the Teutonic Knights pillaged and destroyed the cathedral. Ten years later a Gothic church was built. Casimir III the Great greatly contributed to the reconstruction of Gniezno. At the end of the 14th century, the construction of the chancel and large nave was completed. The Gniezno Doors, a pair of bronze doors, are the most important works of art here. They are decorated with eighteen bas-relief scenes from the life of St. Adalbert, whose remains had been purchased for their weight in gold and brought back to the cathedral. The doors were made about 1175 and are one of the most important works of Romanesque art in Poland. The door is said to have been created by artists from the Meuse area and cast in Gniezno itself. However, there are also speculations that there is a connection with the Hildesheim Cathedral; because the scenes of Bernward's door in the Hildesheim Cathedral have a comparable arrangement, which is rare on medieval picture doors. The left wing is made of a single piece of gunmetal bronze and measures 328 × 84 × 1.5 centimeters. The right wing has almost the same dimensions, but was cast in 24 separate pieces and only then assembled.

Gniezno was an important pagan cult center and around 940 became one of the main fortresses of the early Piast rulers. It may be, that the Lech Hill could have been the burial place of rulers even before the baptism of Mieszko I. After the adoption of Christianity by Mieszko I, his son Bolesław I deposited the remains of Saint Adalbert in a church. The Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000, during which Duke Bolesław I the Brave, received Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. They celebrated the foundation of the archbishopric in Gniezno. In 1025 Bolesław I became the first king of Poland. Until 1320 the city was the coronation place of Polish kings. Gniezno was plundered and destroyed in 1038 by Bohemian troops and again by the Teutonic Knights' invasion in 1331. The city was soon rebuilt during the reign of King Casimir III. Trade flourished, four annual fairs took place and Gniezno was one of the major cities of Poland until the mid-17th century. It was devastated during the Swedish invasions and by a plague in 1708 -1710. All this caused depopulation and economic decline, but the city was soon revived during the 18th century. Gniezno was annexed by Prussia in 1793 and renamed Gnesen. After the invasion of Poland, Gniezno became part of the German Reich in 1939. In January 1945, the city was occupied by the Red Army and rejoined Poland after the end of World War II. The German inhabitants fled or were expelled. - A church here existed already n the 9th century. This church was altered and substantially enlarged over time. After the Bohemian troops in 1038 had destroyed the cathedral and stolen the bones of St. Wojciech the cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style and consecrated in 1064. In 1104 a synod took place here with the participation of a legate of the Holy See, concerning the recovery and future preservation of Wojciech's relics. In 1127 the recovery and preservation of the holy head of Wojciech in the cathedral were celebrated. In 1331, the Teutonic Knights pillaged and destroyed the cathedral. Ten years later a Gothic church was built. Casimir III the Great greatly contributed to the reconstruction of Gniezno. At the end of the 14th century, the construction of the chancel and large nave was completed. Today's appearance is determined by the restoration, since 1945, after the heavy destruction of WWII.

Gniezno was an important pagan cult center and around 940 became one of the main fortresses of the early Piast rulers. It may be, that the Lech Hill could have been the burial place of rulers even before the baptism of Mieszko I. After the adoption of Christianity by Mieszko I, his son Bolesław I deposited the remains of Saint Adalbert in a church. The Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000, during which Duke Bolesław I the Brave, received Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. They celebrated the foundation of the archbishopric in Gniezno. In 1025 Bolesław I became the first king of Poland. Until 1320 the city was the coronation place of Polish kings. Gniezno was plundered and destroyed in 1038 by Bohemian troops and again by the Teutonic Knights' invasion in 1331. The city was soon rebuilt during the reign of King Casimir III. Trade flourished, four annual fairs took place and Gniezno was one of the major cities of Poland until the mid-17th century. It was devastated during the Swedish invasions and by a plague in 1708 -1710. All this caused depopulation and economic decline, but the city was soon revived during the 18th century. Gniezno was annexed by Prussia in 1793 and renamed Gnesen. After the invasion of Poland, Gniezno became part of the German Reich in 1939. In January 1945, the city was occupied by the Red Army and rejoined Poland after the end of World War II. The German inhabitants fled or were expelled. - A church here existed already n the 9th century. This church was altered and substantially enlarged over time. After the Bohemian troops in 1038 had destroyed the cathedral and stolen the bones of St. Wojciech the cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style and consecrated in 1064. In 1104 a synod took place here with the participation of a legate of the Holy See, concerning the recovery and future preservation of Wojciech's relics. In 1127 the recovery and preservation of the holy head of Wojciech in the cathedral were celebrated. In 1331, the Teutonic Knights pillaged and destroyed the cathedral. Ten years later a Gothic church was built. Casimir III the Great greatly contributed to the reconstruction of Gniezno. At the end of the 14th century, the construction of the chancel and large nave was completed. Today's appearance is determined by the restoration, since 1945, after the heavy destruction of WWII.

A legend attributes Kraków's founding to the mythical ruler Krakus, who built it above a cave occupied by a dragon, Smok Wawelski. The first written record dates to 965, when Kraków was described as a notable commercial center captured by a Bohemian duke Boleslaus I in 955. The first ruler of Poland, Mieszko I, took Kraków from the Bohemians. In 1038, Kraków became the seat of the Polish government. By the end of the 10th century, the city was a center of trade. Brick buildings were constructed, including the Royal Wawel Castle. The city was sacked and burned during the Mongol invasion of 1241. It was rebuilt and incorporated in 1257 by Bolesław V the Chaste who introduced city rights. In 1259, the city was again ravaged by the Mongols. The third attack in 1287 was repelled thanks in part to the newly built fortifications. The city rose to prominence in 1364, when Casimir III founded the University of Kraków, the second oldest university in central Europe. But after Casimir´s death in 1370 the campus did not get completed. As the capital of the Kingdom of Poland and a member of the Hanseatic League, the city attracted craftsmen from abroad, guilds as science and the arts began to flourish. The 15th and 16th centuries are known as Poland's "Złoty Wiek" (Golden Age). After childless King Sigismund II had died in 1572, the Polish throne passed to Henry III of France and then to other foreign-based rulers in rapid succession, causing a decline in the city's importance that was worsened by pillaging during the Swedish invasion and by an outbreak of bubonic plague that left 20,000 of the city's residents dead. In 1596, Sigismund III of the House of Vasa moved the capital of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from Kraków to Warsaw. - The Wawel Hill has been the seat of secular and ecclesiastical power since the early Middle Ages. Mieszko I the first historical ruler and creator of the Polish state, chose the hill as the site of one of his residences. His baptism in 966 brought Poland into the orbit of Western culture. The Wawel Cathedral (officialy "Bazylika archikatedralna św. Stanisława i św. Wacława w Krakowie") is for about 1000 years part of the Wawel Castle Complex. The current Gothic cathedral is the third edifice on this site, the Cathedral of St. Wenceslas from 1020 was destroyed in 1038 by the Czech prince Břetislav, the Romanesque cathedral, consecrated in 1142, with the tomb of the holy Stanislaus, burnt down in 1305. A few years later the construction of a Gothic cathedral, started. This was completed in 1346. Since Krakow was Poland's capital until 1609 and the royal castle stood on Wawel Hill, the cathedral also served as the court church, and Poland's kings were buried in the crypt. The Sigismund Bell Tower, built in the second half of the 14th century as part of the fortifications, houses the most venerable bell in Poland, called "Sigismundus". Poland's holy queen Jadwiga (Hedwig of Poland) was buried in the cathedral in 1399. After the Middle Ages, several chapels were added to the cathedral. There are examples of Romanesque, Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, Neoclassical, and Neogothic elements in the Cathedral's façade and interior. The Congress of Gniezno ("Akt von Gnesen") was a meeting between Mieszko I´s son Bolesław I the Brave and Emperor Otto III, which took place at Gniezno in Poland in March 1000. After 997 Adalbert of Prague had been killed by pagan Prussian tribes, Adalbert was quickly canonized by the common effort of Bolesław I and Emperor Otto III. Thus, Adalbert became the first Slavic bishop to become a saint. His body was put into a tomb at Gniezno Cathedral, which became the ecclesiastical center of Poland. Otto III, who had been a friend of Adalbert committed to a pilgrimage from Italy to St. Adalbert's tomb in Gniezno; in his attempt to extend the influence of Christianity in Central and Eastern Europe. During the Congress of Gniezno Otto invested Bolesław with the title "Frater et cooperator Imperii" ("Brother and Partner of the Empire"). Otto III gave Bolesław a replica of his Holy Lance, part of the Imperial Regalia, and Bolesław presented the Emperor with a relic, an arm of St. Adalbert in exchange. The Holy Lance is kept in the treasury of the cathedral, but - strange - it is "named "Spear of St. Maurice".