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Basilica Cathedral of the St. Mary Assumption, WloclawekPoland. Photo by Artur Malinowski-

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Basilica Cathedral of the St. Mary Assumption, Wloclawek, Poland

The Basilica Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption is a Gothic building located in the Polish city of Wloclawek located, near the Vistula River.

 The establishment of the cathedral began in the 1340s and was consecrated in 1411, with its construction completed in 1526.

The cathedral is one of Poland’s great treasure troves of funerary art, closest to the cathedrals in Cracow Gniezno, Poznan.

In 2018 the cathedral was inscribed on the list of historical monuments as part of the 100 Historical Monuments for the Century of Independence campaign.

Learn more about the cathedral in these top 10 interesting facts.

1. The History of Basilica Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption

The history of cathedral St. Mary of the Assumption started during the bishopric of Maciej of Golancz. Maciej was a canon of Wloclawek, Gniezno, Poznan, Cracow, Wroclaw and Plock.

Maciej was the first to initiate and build the cathedral. In May 1329, Teutonic troops captured Wloclawek, destroyed the borough and concentrated mostly on the bishop鈥檚 property.

On August 24, 1330, Maciej of Golancz signed a pact with the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, Werner Von Orseln, who allowed him to resume public religious activities.

 A small church beyond the city was constructed as a temporary solution. Maciej still wanted to build a cathedral and collected funds and created a plan to start building.

2. The Establishment of the Cathedral Began in the 1340s

Photo by PiotrMig-

The cornerstone to begin building the cathedral was consecrated on March 25, 1340, by Maciej Golanczewski. For the next 25 years, the construction of the cathedral’s walls was ongoing.

Maciej鈥檚 nephew Zbylut (1365-1383) succeeded in the episcopate and continued constructing the cathedral. The details of the building process are uncertain.

The first stage included the erection of the presbytery, southern vestry and treasury, which was most likely completed under the guidance of Maciej Golanczewski.

During Zbylut鈥檚 incumbency in the dioceses, the roofs of the lofts and vestry were finished and a high altar with the frame of the mother of God was set up.

3. The Cathedral was Consecrated in 1411

On May 13, 1411, a ceremonious consecration of the cathedral attended by the king of Poland, Wladyslaw Jagiello, took place. During the consecration, the cathedral was not yet finished. The construction continued for the next centuries.

The structure of the main nave was completed at the beginning of the 15th century. Twenty-two quarters of Gothic stained-glass windows in the presbytery have been kept to this day and are currently displayed in the Chapel of St. Barbara.

4. The Cathedral Chapel Started to be Built in the 15th Century

Chapels began to be established around the main body of the church in the fifteenth century. At the Chapter House and southern nave, the St. Martin鈥檚 Chapel was constructed in 1527 and the Cibavit Chapel in 1541.

In the 16th century, the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary and one opposite St. Casimir were remodeled in the Mannerist style, which included covering them with cupolas with lanterns.

5. The Cathedral Was Regothicised by Bishop Wincenty Teofil Chosciak

Photo by PiotrMig-Wikimedia

 In the 19th century, the cathedral was regothicised by bishop Wincenty Teofil Chosciak who oughted the cathedral to turn more monumental and decided to enlarge the towers.

The works began in 1878 with towers enlargement and finished with pointed cupolas.

6. The Cathedral Started to be Rebuilt in 1891

In 1891, Konstanty Wojciechowski began works on reconstructing the cathedral. Based on his design, a chapel was added along the northern nave and the western porch, thus achieving a symmetrical building arrangement.

The towers were later c covered with bubble domes and enlarged by two soaring floors in neo-Gothic style.

The works also comprised of replacing numerous elements of decoration of the interior, which restored it to the original Gothic character of the cathedral.

 The rebuilding works were completed in 1902. In 1907 the cathedral was honored with the title of a minor basilica, named by Pope Pius X.

7. The Interior of the Cathedral has Stunning Features

Photo by PiotrMig-

The interior is maintained in the gothic style but has baroque and neo-gothic elements. It has great pieces of art from different centuries.

The Basilica’s interior is stunning. It is decorated with polychrome by brothers Stanislaw and Zdzislaw. There are stained glasses windows by Jozef Mehoffer and Gothic stained-glass windows from around 1350

There is also a Gothic painting of the Assumption of Mary of the Warta River, which dates from 1475 and is attributed to John the Great. Also, Baroque stalls from 1683 and many more amazing interior decors.

8. The Cathedral Historic Event

An important occurrence in the cathedral’s history was the visit of Pope John Paul II, who lodged in Wloclawek on 6 and 7 June 1991.

There is a monument to John Paul II in one of the side aisles of the cathedral of the Assumption, which commemorates his historical event of visiting the cathedral.

9. The Cathedral is Still Operational

The cathedral is still operational and masses are done from Monday to Sunday. There is always a guided tour of the cathedral. The guided tours are charged.

10. The Cathedral Choir

The cathedral orchestra has functioned in the cathedral since the 21st century closed. The priest Leon Moczynski formed a choir out of seminaries. 

After a while, some people from the city expressed willingness to join in. therefore, the cathedral had two choirs, one formed by priests and the mixed one formed by lay boys and men. The two choirs often performed together.

Part of the choir split up from the cathedral in 1925 and became the Association of Former Cathedral Choirs 鈥淟ute鈥� (Lutnia), It remains up to date. The priest Andrzej Nodzynski improved the cathedral choir and continued to work with it.

Tadeusz Guzenda came to be the conductor of the choir in 1938. In the 1960s, he formed a male choir and a female one. When priest Zbigniew Szygenda was conductor, he joined both choirs. Since 1983 Jozef Nowak has been the conductor of the choir that comprises 45 people.