Casimir the Great, and Pope Urban V as well as coats of arms of and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The decorations and furnishings of the interior are the works of Tadeusz Stryjeński, an esteemed late-19th century architect. possesses two internal courtyards, divided by a monumental staircase with a diamond vault ceiling. The richly ornamented double doors leading to rooms are framed by stone doorways.

Collegium Novum is a very important place in the turbulent history of Kraków. Many dramatic events occurred within its walls. During the Great War, it was temporarily transformed into a military hospital due to the high number of wounded. In the course of World War II, Nazi German administration operated from Collegium Novum. During that time, the most valuable University heirlooms, including rectors' sceptres and precious jewellery, were hidden in the building, which saved them from the invaders. One of the most tragic events that occurred in Collegium Novum happened on 6th November 1939. On that day, Nazi German secret police captured and arrested some of Kraków's university professors. The operation is now known to have been code-named .

The period of Soviet rule was also rife with dramatic moments, such as the events which occurred during the 1968 Polish political crisis in March, when Communist-controlled state police and a group of politically active industrial workers broke into Collegium Novum, which led to repressions against the University's students and staff.

Assembly Hall Sonderaktion Krakau About the University Assembly Hall – the largest and most impressive room of Collegium Novum is located on the first Room 56, second floor floor of the building. It is here that the most important meetings, conferences, symposia, Founded in 1364 by King Casimir the Great, the is the oldest Polish Sonderaktion Krakau was a punitive operation carried out by the Nazi Germans on 6 November lectures and celebrations are held. Until recently, the academic year opening ceremonies were institution of higher education. Highly esteemed and respected, the University is a symbol of 1939, targeted at Kraków scholarly elite. Polish nation and academia, an institution whose history has been inextricably bound with the also held in Collegium Novum Assembly Hall. In the central part of the room there is a dais on history of Kraków and Poland for more than 650 years. which the richly ornamented rector's chair stands along with chairs of vice-rectors. To the right, On the order of Sturmbannführer Bruno Müller, a commander of the German secret police next to the windows, there are chairs of faculty deans. , Prof. Janusz Lehr-Spławiński, the then rector of the Jagiellonian University, called an Today, the University combines tradition with modernity, pursuing novel research areas and academic staff meeting during which the professors were to listen to Sturmbannführer Müller's The wall behind the dais is decorated with paintings of University founders: King Casimir the maintaining excellence in education and research, which results in its leading position among lecture about German plans related to the Polish academia and higher education. In reality, Great, Saint Queen Jadwiga and King Vladislaus Jagiełło. The wall left to the dais is adorned with Polish higher education institutions. the scholars who attended the meeting, held on November 6 at 12.00 o'clock, were arrested for paintings depicting rectors and professors of the University as well as a portrait of Pope John their alleged hostile attitude towards German academia and the decision of University Paul II, a self-portrait of the painter and the most famous and precious of the authorities to open the University against the will and without permission of the German Collegium Novum paintings in the Hall – Astronomer Copernicus, or Conversations with God by Jan Matejko. Another authorities, which was regarded a 'hostile act against the German Reich'. The event took place Collegium Novum is the most iconic building of the Jagiellonian University. It houses the offices of Matejko's paintings – The influence of the University on the Country in the 15th and 16th in room 66 (the current room 56). of the University's authorities: rector, vice-rectors, and deans as well as central administration. century hangs on the wall opposite to the dais. Various scientific and cultural events, conferences, and concerts are frequently organised in this Altogether 183 people were arrested, including 144 Jagiellonian University academics, 22 The colourful walls of the Hall were painted by the artist Józef Kott. The room is crowned with building. professors of the Academy of Mining, along with several students and clerks who happened to be a uniquely beautiful coffered ceiling with coats of arms of the University (sceptres and a white in the building. All of them were taken to the concentration camp at Sachsenhausen, near Berlin. The edifice was erected in 1883–1887 according to a design by Feliks Księżarski in the space eagle with St. Stanislaus) as well as 24 Polish cities painted on the ceiling beam corbels. International protests and interventions resulted in gradual release of the detainees. Fifteen previously occupied by the University's dormitories. Since the beginning, the Gothic Revival The heraldry reflects the extent of Polish territory under King Casimir the Great's reign. of them lost their lives in the camp. Some others died shortly after returning to Poland. building was a symbol of knowledge and Polish national identity. Its architectural style is reminiscent of the times of the University's foundation as the Kraków Academy – times when To mark the anniversary of these tragic events, each year on November 6 the Jagiellonian Poland flourished as a nation. The façade of Collegium Novum is adorned with coats of arms of University holds the Remembrance Day. the Jagiellonian University's founders and benefactors: St. Stanislaus, House of Anjou, King Commemorative plaques Important events and historical figures related to the Jagiellonian University are commemorated by plaques embedded in the walls. There are several dozen such tablets placed throughout Collegium Novum. The most notable are: 1 2 3 4 Collegium Novum Collegium Witkowski Collegium Minus JU Museum Ground floor – front wall, next to the main entrance: JU Administration Institute of History Institute of Archaeology Collegium Maius ul. Gołębia 24 ul. Gołębia 13 ul. Gołębia 11 ul. Jagiellońska 15 A plaque commemorating the University's founders: King Casimir the Great, Queen Jadwiga d'Anjou, and King Vladislaus Jagiełło.

First floor landing:

A bronze plaque commemorating the laying of the cornerstone of Collegium Novum by Józef Sebastian Pelczar, Jagiellonian University Rector, on 23rd May 1883.

5 6 7 8 A bronze plaque commemorating the victims of Stalinism – the University's students, alumni, and staff killed or gone missing in the years 1939–1945. Collegium Collegium Kołłątaj Faculty of Polish Collegium Wróblewski Novodvorscianum ul. św. Anny 6 Studies Faculty of Law Second floor landing: Faculty of Medicine ul. Gołębia 16 and Administration ul. św. Anny 12 ul. Olszewskiego 2 Pijarska A marble plaque commemorating the Jan Kazimierz University of Lviv professors and alumni killed by Nazi Germans.

Św. Tomasza Assembly Hall vestibule

Św. Marka A bronze plaque commemorating the Jagiellonian University and Academy of Mining professors Szczepańska Krupnicza and teaching assistants arrested on 6 November 1939 during Sonderaktion Krakau. Sławkowska Podwale 9 Św. Jana St. Anne’s Collegiate Szewska Św. Tomasza Church Św. Anny ul. św. Anny 11 9 Floriańska Mikołajska Sculptures 5 4 Exhibits from the collection of the Archaeological Museum, formerly located on the ground 2 Jagiellońska floor of Collegium Novum, are now displayed in the 'rectors' hallway' on the first floor. Among 3 6 1 Sienna the 19th–century masterpieces are Leda and the Swan sculpted in marble as well as plaster casts

Gołębia Wiślna gifted by Karol Lanckoroński: Laocoön and His Sons, head of Zeus (based on Fidias' statue), and Olszewskiego7 Straszewskiego the goddess Aphrodite. 8

Stolarska

Bracka Oak of Liberty Grodzka The Oak of Liberty is located at the centre of Franciszkańska Dominikańska a circular lawn in front of Collegium Novum. Smoleńsk It was planted to commemorate the adopting of the Constitution of 3rd May 1791. During World War II, the Nazi German invaders cut down the tree, and another one was eventually replanted in its place as a symbol of the rebirth of inde- www.en.uj.edu.pl pendent Poland in 1918 and the permanence of University values. In more recent times, the Oak /jagiellonian.university gained an additional meaning: earth from places Collegium Novum Jagiellonian University /JagiellonskiUni where Polish students and academics of the died tragically in the ul. Gołębia 24, 31-007 Kraków /unijagiellonski course of World War II, gathered in the years GPS: 50.060931, 19.932782 /jagiellonian-university 1999–2004, was placed next to the tree.