Romanesque architecture in Poland

[DocentX]

Romanesque architecture

The name Romanesque, like many other stylistic designations, was not a term contemporary with the art it describes but an invention of modern scholarship to categorize a period.

The term "Romanesque" attempts to link the architecture, especially, of the 11th and 12th centuries in medieval Europe to Roman Architecture based on similarities of forms and materials. Romanesque is characterised by a use of round or slightly pointed arches, barrel vaults, cruciform piers supporting vaults, and groin vaults.

The great carved portals of 12th century church facades parallel the architectural novelty of the period - monumental stone sculpture seems reborn in the Romanesque.

Romanesque seems to have been the first pan-European style since Roman Imperial Architecture and examples are found in every part of the continent. One important fact pointed out by the stylistic similarity of buildings across Europe is the relative mobility of medieval people. Contrary to many modern ideas of life before the Industrial Revolution, merchants, nobles, knights, artisans, and peasants crossed Europe and the Mediterranean world for business, war, and religious pilgrimages, carrying their knowledge of what buildings in different places looked like.


Here are some examples of romanesque architecture in Poland :

(note that some of the monuments are not in 'pure romanesque' style)



Krakow:

-st.Andrzej church

http://www.poczta-polska.pl/mw/o/0_Krakow_17.jpg

-Tyniec abbey

http://www.poczta-polska.pl/mw/o/0_Tyniec_05.jpg
http://www.zabytki-tonz.pl/images/rom16.jpg

-st.Adalbert church

http://www.wawel.net/images/koscioly/k33.jpg
http://www.wawel.net/images/14_pazdziernik_2004/wrzesien_2004_miasto/koscioly/9.jpg

-Wawel cathedral - St. Leonard crypt

http://www.walczewski.pl/krakow/10.jpg

-Wawel

http://www.zabytki-tonz.pl/images/rom07.jpg

-st.Salwador church

http://jazon.hist.uj.edu.pl/~gb/picturae/krakow_04.jpg
http://www.wawel.net/images/11_wrzesnia_2004/norbert/5.jpg
http://www.wawel.net/images/11_wrzesnia_2004/norbert/2.jpg
http://www.wawel.net/images/11_wrzesnia_2004/norbert/1.jpg

-st.Benedict church

http://www.podgorze.pl/link/zabytki/fot6_d.jpg

Strzelno :

http://www.poczta-polska.pl/mw/o/1_Strzelno_2.jpg

Czerwinsk:

http://www.poczta-polska.pl/mw/o/4_Czerwinsk_02.jpg

Tum:

http://www.eturystyka.com.pl/miasta/lodzkie/tum/1.jpg
http://www.republika.pl/motocyklowa/leczyca2/08.jpg

Sulejow:

http://www.poczta-polska.pl/mw/o/0_Sulejow_12.jpg

Opatow:

http://www.kolegiataopatow.sandomierz.opoka.org.pl/burza2.jpg
http://www.kolegiataopatow.sandomierz.opoka.org.pl/galeria/obrazki/g02a.jpg
http://www.kolegiataopatow.sandomierz.opoka.org.pl/galeria/obrazki/g04a.jpg
http://www.kolegiataopatow.sandomierz.opoka.org.pl/galeria/obrazki/g14a.jpg
http://www.kolegiataopatow.sandomierz.opoka.org.pl/galeria/obrazki/g13a.jpg

Strzelno:

http://www.bik.pl/tomek/travel/Wielkopolska/Wielkopolska-Strzelno-tympanon1-18-09-2002.jpg
http://www.bik.pl/tomek/travel/Wielkopolska/Wielkopolska-Strzelno-kolumna3-18-09-2002.jpg
http://www.zabytki-tonz.pl/images/rom13.jpg

Kruszwica:

http://www.zabytki-tonz.pl/images/rom08.jpg
http://www.bik.pl/tomek/nepomuk/JN-Kujawy-Kruszwica-kolegiata-absydy18-09-2002.jpg
http://www.bik.pl/tomek/travel/Wielkopolska/Wielkopolska-Kruszwica-kolegiata-scianaS18-09-2002.jpg

Sandomierz:

http://swietyjakub.republika.pl/galpory/obrazki/01.jpg
http://swietyjakub.republika.pl/galpory/obrazki/14.jpg
http://swietyjakub.republika.pl/galportal/obrazki/02.jpg
http://swietyjakub.republika.pl/galportal/obrazki/06.jpg
http://swietyjakub.republika.pl/galkosciol/obrazki/25.jpg

Inowlodz:

http://www.zabytki-tonz.pl/images/rom02.jpg

Konin:

http://www.zabytki-tonz.pl/images/rom05.jpg

KOPRZYWNICA

http://www.zabytki-tonz.pl/images/rom06.jpg

KOŚCIELEC PIŃCZOWSKI

http://www.zabytki-tonz.pl/images/rom19.jpg

MOGILNO

http://www.zabytki-tonz.pl/images/rom09.jpg

OSTRÓW LEDNICKI

http://www.zabytki-tonz.pl/images/rom11.jpg

WACHOCK

http://www.zabytki-tonz.pl/images/rom17.jpg

Cieszyn

http://www.cieszyn.pl/pl/dane/materialy/galeria/d/foto_001d.jpg

[AGC]

nice amount of pics:)
old architecture is great!!

[Phobos]

pretty churches!

[Gatis]

This is interesting for me. Recently I started to have more interest in Romanesque in my country... there is not that much but we have something as well. Poland as nearby country is interesting to compare.
Nowadays Romanesque architecture seems to be mysterious and full with hidden meaning. May be it was - in many places (like contemporary Latvia) these were the first masonry buildings ever, built by people, who had much higher knowledge than casual people.
Great series, thank you!

[RW-co]

Romanesque churches reminds me of the old times. Thnaks for these pix

[SinCity]

Thanks for the pics. I wouldnt have thought that the Romanesque architecture would penetrated its way that far north. Still its very cool to see these fine examples in Poland!

In Croatia, we generally have Romanesque architecture on the coast, while everything pretty much in the north is either Baroque, Gothic or Sessionist.

[DocentX]

Thanks for the pics. I wouldnt have thought that the Romanesque architecture would penetrated its way that far north. Still its very cool to see these fine examples in Poland!

In Croatia, we generally have Romanesque architecture on the coast, while everything pretty much in the north is either Baroque, Gothic or Sessionist.

Here You have Polish Romanesque architecture route map:

http://www.szlakromanski.pl/fotki/mapaszlak1.gif

This trail will lead you to the finest and best-preserved Romanesque buildings in Poland.

Mogilno – the church of the former Benedictine Abbey (11th c.), Strzelno – St Procopius’ Church and the Church of the Holy Trinity, both from the 12th century, Inowrocław – St Mary’s Church (13th c.), Kruszwica – SS Peter and Paul Collegiate Church (12th c.)., Trzemeszno – the Benedictine church (12th c.), Kościelec Kujawski – St Margaret’s church (12th/13th cc.).

[SinCity]

Thanks DocentX! I notice that Polish Romanesqu architecture has a concentration in the central part of the country. Is there any reason why this happened?

[DocentX]

Thanks DocentX! I notice that Polish Romanesqu architecture has a concentration in the central part of the country. Is there any reason why this happened?

As You can see- there is also concentration of romanesque art in south- west part of Poland (blue spots), sothern part (green), north- west (black).

The reason- probably the importance and the economic development of the Polish regions in XI - XII cent.

The most importat at that time were :

-Greather Poland region (red spots)
-Silesia (blue spots)
-Little Poland (green spots)

[OlekD]

great thread Docent , these sculptured bricks in Sandomierz's church looks excelent.

[Van der Rohe]

This is interesting for me. Recently I started to have more interest in Romanesque in my country... there is not that much but we have something as well. Poland as nearby country is interesting to compare.
Nowadays Romanesque architecture seems to be mysterious and full with hidden meaning. May be it was - in many places (like contemporary Latvia) these were the first masonry buildings ever, built by people, who had much higher knowledge than casual people.
Great series, thank you!


It's incredible when we realise that some of these smallest romanesque chapels were THE VERY FIRST buildings in Poland that weren't made of wood but of stone or bricks!!! (dating as far as 10th and 11th century).