| Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | |
|---|---|
Kościół Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Marii Panny | |
 Exterior of the church, view from the west | |
 Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | |
| Location | Mariacki Square Kraków |
| Country | Poland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founder | Casimir III the Great |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Polish Brick Gothic |
| Completed | 1347 |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iv |
| Designated | 1978 |
| Part of | Historic Centre of Kraków |
| Reference no. | 29 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
| Designated | 1994-09-08 |
| Part of | Kraków – historic city center |
| Reference no. | M.P. 1994 nr 50 poz. 418[1] |
TheChurch of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Polish:Kościół Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Marii Panny), knowncolloquially as theSt. Mary's Church (Polish:Kościół Mariacki), is a historicRoman Catholic parish church located at Mariacki Square at the north-eastern corner of theMain Market Square in theOld Town ofKraków,Poland.[2]
It is aBrick Gothicchurch. Built in the 14th century, its foundations date back to the early 13th century and serve as one of the best examples ofPolish Gothic architecture. Standing 80 m (262 ft) tall, it is particularly famous for itswooden altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss(Wit Stwosz). Some of its monumentalpolychrome murals were designed by Poland's leadinghistory painter,Jan Matejko (1838–1893). In 1978, it became aUNESCO World Heritage Site alongside theHistoric Centre of Kraków.
On every hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a trumpet signal—called theHejnał mariacki—is played from the top of the taller of Saint Mary's two towers. The plaintive tune breaks off in mid-stream, to commemorate a famous 13th-century trumpeter who was shot in the throat while sounding the alarm before aMongol attack on the city. The noon-timehejnał is heard across Poland and abroad broadcast live byPolish Radio Jedynka.[3][4]
Saint Mary's Basilica also served as an architectural model for many of the churches that were built by thePolish diaspora abroad, particularly those likeSaint Michael's andSaint John Cantius inChicago, designed in thePolish Cathedral style.
The church is familiar to many English-speaking readers from the 1928 bookThe Trumpeter of Krakow byEric P. Kelly.
According to chroniclerJan Długosz, Saint Mary's Basilica in the Main Square in Kraków was founded in1221–22 by theBishop of Kraków,Iwo Odrowąż. The building was destroyed during theMongol invasion of Poland. Between 1290 and 1300 the newearly Gothic church was built on the remaining foundations. It was consecrated twenty years later, in 1320.[5]
The church was completely rebuilt during the reign ofCasimir III the Great between 1355 and 1365 with substantial contributions from wealthyrestaurateur Mikołaj Wierzynek.[6] Thepresbytery was elongated and tall windows added. Themain body of the church was completed in 1395–97 with the newvault constructed by master Nicholas Wernher fromPrague.[5] However, the vault over the presbytery collapsed in 1442 due to a possibleearthquake, which has never happened before nor since in Kraków.[6]
In the first half of the 15th century, the side chapels were added. Most of them were the work of master Franciszek Wiechoń. At the same time the northern tower was raised and designed to serve as the watch tower for the entire city. In 1478 carpenter Maciej Heringh (or Heringk)[5][6] funded a helmet for the tower. A gilded crown was placed on it in 1666, which is still present today. At the end of the 15th century, Saint Mary's church was enriched with a sculptural masterpiece, anAltarpiece of Veit Stoss (Ołtarz MariackiWita Stwosza) of late Gothic design.[6]
In 1536/37, KingSigismund I. declared that the sermons in the church should be changed fromGerman toPolish. The large German community of Kraków were relocating their place of worship to the smaller Saint Barbara's church.[7]
In the 18th century, by the decision ofvicar Jacek Augustyn Łopacki,[5] the interior was rebuilt in the late Baroque style. The author of this work was Francesco Placidi. All 26 altars, equipment, furniture, benches and paintings were replaced and the walls were decorated with polychrome, the work of Andrzej Radwański.[5] In the years immediately before 1730 the Venetian painterGiambattista Pittoni painted five altarpieces for the side altars of the central nave: The Annunciation, The Adoration of the Magi, Madonna and Child with St. Philip Neri, Mary Magdalene, St. Sebastian.[8]
At the beginning of the 19th century, the city decided that a cemetery near the basilica was to be shut down and replaced by a public square. Today, it is known asPlac Mariacki (Marian Square).[5] In the years 1887–1891, under the direction of Tadeusz Stryjeński, theneo-Gothic design was introduced into the basilica. The temple gained a new design and murals painted and funded byJan Matejko, who worked withStanisław Wyspiański andJózef Mehoffer - the authors of stained glass in the presbytery.
In the 1990s, the church was renovated, ending with the replacement of the roof in 2003.[citation needed]
On 18 April 2010, in Saint Mary's Basilica, a funeral ceremony for Polish presidentLech Kaczyński and his wife Maria was held. The coffins were later transported and buried in one of the crypts ofWawel Cathedral.
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50°03′42″N19°56′21″E / 50.06167°N 19.93917°E /50.06167; 19.93917
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