CATHEDRAL
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 st. John the Baptist in Gniezno is associated with the Order of Canons, Regular Guardians of the Holy Sepulcher The order was founded in 1099 by Gottfried of Buillon, a participant in the first crusade to Jerusalem, known as the protector of the Holy Sepulcher. He placed a group of canons at the basilica of the Tomb of Christ, and their main task was to look after him, run a hospice and look after pilgrims who came in large numbers to the Holy Land.
GROAD CHURCH
Church of st. George is one of the oldest churches in Gniezno. The earliest pre-Romanesque stone relics, uncovered during archaeological excavations, date back to the 10th century. This temple is assigned the function of a castle chapel / church, i.e. built in the city of the then Piast ruler. The pre-Romanesque church, like the cathedral, destroyed the invasion of the Czech prince Brzetyslav in 1038/1039. During the archaeological research, the remains of a stone castle gate from the second half of the 19th century were also discovered. It is the second oldest Romanesque building of this type, the relics of which have been found in Poland.
