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Płock Cathedral ( pl, Katedra Płocka), or the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Masovia, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Płock, in central Poland. It is an example of 12th-century Romanesque architecture and is the oldest and most important historical monument in the city, which contains the tombs of several
The bishopric in Płock was founded about 1075. The first definite reference to the cathedral is in 1102, when Władysław I Herman was buried there. The present Romanesque cathedral was built after 1129 by prince Bolesław III and Bishop Aleksander of Malonne. This was a rebuilding following a fire and took from 1136 until 1144. It was consecrated in 1144 as the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The original bronze doors of the Romanesque cathedral (now in Velikiy Novgorod) have figurative bas-reliefs depicting the verses of the so-called "Roman Confession of Faith", and the figure of Alexander of Malonne, bishop of Płock. The doors were made in the Magdeburg workshop about 1150. In the cathedral there is now a bronze replica of the doors, made in the 1980s. In the Royal Chapel on the north side of the cathedral is a marble sarcophagus forming the tomb of two Polish rulers, Władysław I Herman and his son Bolesław III Wrymouth.
Following a major fire in 1530, the building was reconstructed by Bishop Andzej Krzycki as a new Renaissance style church (1531–1535). This was the first large Renaissance style cathedral in Poland, although it reused granite ashlar portions of the Romanesque basilica. The architects were Bernardino de Gianotis from Rome, Giovanni Cini da Siena and Philippo da Fiesole. The layout of the new cathedral was based on the Renaissance basilicas of Rome ( Sant'Agostino, Santa Maria del Popolo). However the external architecture remains in the style of North Italian brick churches, more similar to local late Gothic ones in Masovia, and may be the result of rebuilding work about 1560 by Giovanni Battista of
Polish monarchs
Poland was ruled at various times either by dukes and princes (10th to 14th centuries) or by kings (11th to 18th centuries). During the latter period, a tradition of free election of monarchs made it a uniquely electable position in Europe (16t ...
. It is listed as a Historic Monument of Poland.
History
The bishopric in Płock was founded about 1075. The first definite reference to the cathedral is in 1102, when Władysław I Herman was buried there. The present Romanesque cathedral was built after 1129 by prince Bolesław III and Bishop Aleksander of Malonne. This was a rebuilding following a fire and took from 1136 until 1144. It was consecrated in 1144 as the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The original bronze doors of the Romanesque cathedral (now in Velikiy Novgorod) have figurative bas-reliefs depicting the verses of the so-called "Roman Confession of Faith", and the figure of Alexander of Malonne, bishop of Płock. The doors were made in the Magdeburg workshop about 1150. In the cathedral there is now a bronze replica of the doors, made in the 1980s. In the Royal Chapel on the north side of the cathedral is a marble sarcophagus forming the tomb of two Polish rulers, Władysław I Herman and his son Bolesław III Wrymouth.
Following a major fire in 1530, the building was reconstructed by Bishop Andzej Krzycki as a new Renaissance style church (1531–1535). This was the first large Renaissance style cathedral in Poland, although it reused granite ashlar portions of the Romanesque basilica. The architects were Bernardino de Gianotis from Rome, Giovanni Cini da Siena and Philippo da Fiesole. The layout of the new cathedral was based on the Renaissance basilicas of Rome ( Sant'Agostino, Santa Maria del Popolo). However the external architecture remains in the style of North Italian brick churches, more similar to local late Gothic ones in Masovia, and may be the result of rebuilding work about 1560 by Giovanni Battista of Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
, who added the spacious choir and two western towers.
The building was restored in 1903, when the present front elevation facing west and the towers was re-designed by the architect in charge of the restoration, Stefan Szyller. Between the world wars, the interior was decorated with additional frescoes by Władysław Drapiewski
Władysław Drapiewski (12 November 1876, Gacki – 30 December 1961, Pelplin) was a Polish painter who was one of the best-known creators of religious paintings in the first half of the 20th-century in Poland.
Biography
He initially studi ...
and Czesław Idźkiewicz, local student of Józef Mehoffer graduating from the Academy in Kraków.
In 2018, due to its ''historical, artistic, scientific, material and landscape values'', the Cathedral along with the entire ''Wzgórze Tumskie'' ("Tumskie Hill") was listed by the President of Poland as a Historic Monument of Poland.
Burials
Polish monarchs
* Władysław I Herman * Bolesław III Wrymouth * Bolesław IV the Curly * Konrad I of Masovia *Bolesław II of Masovia
Bolesław II of Masovia or Bolesław II of Płock (pl: ''Bolesław II mazowiecki (płocki)''; ca. 1253/58 – 20 April 1313), was a Polish prince, member of the House of Piast, Duke of Masovia during 1262-1275 jointly with his brother, after 12 ...
Other
*Tadeusz Paweł Zakrzewski
Tadeusz Paweł Zakrzewski (11 August 1883 in Skoki – 26 November 1961) was a Polish Catholicism, Catholic priest, auxiliary bishop of Łomża (1938–1946), bishop of Płock (1946–1961), rector of Polish Papal Institute in Rome (1928–1938).
...
*Henry of Masovia
Henry of Masovia ( pl, Henryk mazowiecki) (1368/1370–1392/1393) was a noble and a bishop of the Kingdom of Poland.
Biography
Henry of Masovia, born between 1368 and 1370 in Rawa Mazowiecka was the youngest child of one of the Piast dynasty pri ...
*Michał Nowodworski
Michał Nowodworski (1831–1896) was a 19th-century Roman Catholic bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Płock, Płock in Poland.
Michael Nowodworski was born on 27 July 1831 in Włocławek; he was Bishop of Płock, a publisher and a publicist.
H ...
See also
*Płock Diadem
The Płock Diadem ( pl, Diadem płocki) was created in the beginning of the 13th century probably in Hungary. This filigree diadem is wrought of extremely pure gold and set with sapphires, rubies, almandines and pearls.
History
The diadem was b ...
* Dukes of Masovia
Duke of Masovia ( pl, Książę Mazowsza) was a title born by the sons and descendants of the Polish Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth. In accordance with the last will and testament of Bolesław, upon his death his lands were divided into four to five ...
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Plock Cathedral Cathedral Roman Catholic cathedrals in Poland Romanesque architecture in Poland Basilica churches in Poland 12th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Poland 12th-century establishments in Poland Buildings and structures completed in 1144 Burial sites of the Piast dynasty Churches in Masovian Voivodeship