Corpus Christi Basilica
Encyclopedia
The Basilica
Bożego Ciała (also known as the Corpus Christi Church), located in Kraków
district of Kazimierz
, Poland
; is a Gothic
Church founded by Kazimierz the Great in 1335. The basilica was erected in stages beginning in 1340 until about the mid-15th century, and was intended as a monastery, which explains the large size plot on which it stands and the presence of a cemetery next to it. In 1404 King Władysław Jagiełło had given it to the Canons Regular of the Lateran
congregation brought in from Kłodzko.
The interior of the church is a mixture of Polish Gothic
and impressive Polish Baroque
architecture; with stuctural features such as the marvelous Baroque high altar
, a boat-shaped pulpit (1750), and its organs. The church was robbed clean and the interior utterly devastated by soldiers of the 1655 Swedish invasion
(the Deluge), which explains the prevalence of Baroque in its current decoration. The church is often said to be one of the most beautiful Baroque stalls in Central Europe. Bartolommeo Berrecci
, the famous Renaissance artist who designed the Sigismund's Chapel
at Wawel
, is buried there.
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
Bożego Ciała (also known as the Corpus Christi Church), located in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
district of Kazimierz
Kazimierz
Kazimierz is a historical district of Kraków , best known for being home to a Jewish community from the 14th century until the Second World War.-Early history:...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
; is a Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
Church founded by Kazimierz the Great in 1335. The basilica was erected in stages beginning in 1340 until about the mid-15th century, and was intended as a monastery, which explains the large size plot on which it stands and the presence of a cemetery next to it. In 1404 King Władysław Jagiełło had given it to the Canons Regular of the Lateran
Canons Regular of the Lateran
The Canons Regular of the Lateran , formally titled Canons Regular of St. Augustine of the Congregation of the Most Holy Savior at the Lateran is an international religious order of priests and Brothers in the Catholic Church....
congregation brought in from Kłodzko.
The interior of the church is a mixture of Polish Gothic
Polish Gothic
The Gothic style arrived in Poland in first half the 13th century with Dominican and Franciscan orders. The first elements of the new style is evident in the foundation built during the bishop Iwo Odrowąż in Dominican Trinity church in Kraków...
and impressive Polish Baroque
Baroque in Poland
The Polish Baroque lasted from the late 16th to the mid-18th century. As with Baroque style elsewhere in Europe, Poland's Baroque emphasized the richness and triumphant power of contemporary art forms. In contrast to the previous, Renaissance style which sought to depict the beauty and harmony of...
architecture; with stuctural features such as the marvelous Baroque high altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
, a boat-shaped pulpit (1750), and its organs. The church was robbed clean and the interior utterly devastated by soldiers of the 1655 Swedish invasion
Second Northern War
The Second Northern War was fought between Sweden and its adversaries the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , Russia , Brandenburg-Prussia , the Habsburg Monarchy and Denmark–Norway...
(the Deluge), which explains the prevalence of Baroque in its current decoration. The church is often said to be one of the most beautiful Baroque stalls in Central Europe. Bartolommeo Berrecci
Bartolommeo Berrecci
Bartolommeo Berrecci was a Florentine renaissance architect, who spent most of his career in Poland.He learned architecture in Florence, probably taught by Andrea Ferrucci...
, the famous Renaissance artist who designed the Sigismund's Chapel
Sigismund's Chapel
"Sigismund's Chapel" of the Wawel Cathedral is one of the most notable pieces of architecture in Kraków. Built as a funerary chapel for the last Jagiellons, it has been hailed by many art historians as "the most beautiful example of the Tuscan Renaissance north of the Alps"...
at Wawel
Wawel
Wawel is an architectural complex erected over many centuries atop a limestone outcrop on the left bank of the Vistula River in Kraków, Poland, at an altitude of 228 metres above the sea level. It is a place of great significance to the Polish people. The Royal Castle with an armoury and the...
, is buried there.