A walk in Gniezno English THIS IS WHERE OUR PEOPLE CAME FROM The origins of Gniezno date back to the turn of the 6th and 7th century. The region was attractive to the first settlers not only due to the lie of the Do you want to learn more? land and abundance of water, but also because of the junction of the main trade routes of the 1. More information can be found in other Western Europe, leading from Rus, Moravia and Pomerania. It was here, at the end of the publications from this series in the Municipal THE LEGEND Office in Gniezno, in the Municipal Centre of 8th century, where a ducal stronghold and the The legend has it that surrounding settlements were located. Gniezno’s history began Innovation and Promotion with three brothers – Lech, Mieszko I was the first ruler of Poland in national Czech and Rus. KOMUNIKACJA WAĩNE TELEFONY URZĉDY I INSTYTUCJE PRZEWODNICY PO SZLAKU PIASTOWSKIM www.gniezno.eu )NFORMACJAÝTURYSTYCZNA -0+Ý'NIEZNO 4ELEFONÝALARMOWY 5RZ¹DÝ-IEJSKI They were struggling TELÝÝÝÝ ULÝ,ECHAÝ chronicles, who formed a country of a considerable TELÝÝÝÝÝ 0OWIATOWEÝ#ENTRUMÝ)NFORMACJIÝ4URYSTYCZNEJ /RGANIZACJAÝ4URYSTYCZNAÝ 3ZLAKÝ0IASTOWSKIl 0+0Ý'NIEZNO 0OLICJA E MAILÝGNIEZNO GNIEZNOEU k through the wilderness in TELÝÝ ÝÝÝÝ WWWGNIEZNOEU 2YNEKÝ BAZA HOTELOWA TELÝÝÝÝ 0+3Ý'NIEZNOÝ 3TRAÛÝ0OÛARNA IT SZLAKPIASTOWSKICOM territorial importance and strengthened it politically TELÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝ 5RZ¹DÝ'MINYÝ'NIEZNO WWWSZLAKPIASTOWSKICOMPL search of a land they could ULÝ2EYMONTAÝ I GASTRONOMICZNA ODÝÝMAJAÝDOÝÝWRZEÏNIA ODÝÝPAÙDZIERNIKAÝDOÝÝKWIETNIA 2ADIOÝ-ERCEDESÝ4!8) 0OGOTOWIEÝGAZOWE TELÝÝÝÝÝ PONIEDZIA¬EKÝnÝPI¹TEKÝ PONIEDZIA¬EKÝnÝPI¹TEKÝÝ TELÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝ WWWURZADGMINYGNIEZNOPL settle in. One day, the SOBOTYÝ by Christianization. The Baptism of Poland took 2ADIOÝ4!8)Ý,%#( 0OGOTOWIEÝENERGETYCZNE NIEDZIELEÝIÝÏWI½TAÝ TELÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝ 3TAROSTWOÝ0OWIATOWE Ý ULÝ*ANAÝ0AW¬AÝ))Ý 0OLSKIEÝ4OWARZYSTWOÝ4URYSTYCZNOÝ+RAJOZNAWCZEÝ , on Holy Saturday, in Ostrów Lednicki. impenetrable forest began to #HROBRYÝ2ADIOÝ 4AXIÝ'NIEZNO 0OGOTOWIEÝWODOCI¹GOWE TELÝÝÝÝ /DDZIA¬Ý :IEMIÝ'NIEÙNIEÅSKIEJl 966 TELÝÝÝÝÝÝ WWWPOWIAT GNIEZNOPL ULÝ+ANCLÝ*ANAÝ«ASKIEGOk place in Ý TELFAXÝÝÝÝ -ERKURYÝ2ADIOÝ 4AXIÝ'NIEZNO "IUROÝNUMERWÝ40 thin out until it suddenly TELÝÝÝÝ Ý 0OCZTAÝ0OLSKA Ý 5RZ¹DÝ0OCZTOWYÝ'NIEZNOÝ) 0RZEWODNICYÝPOÝ3ANKTUARIUMÝÏWÝ7OJCIECHA 2ADIOÝ 4AXIÝ 4ELEFONÝZAUFANIA ULÝ"OLES¬AWAÝ#HROBREGOÝ ULÝ+ANCLÝ*ANAÝ«ASKIEGOÝ The ducal stronghold, which served as the capital disappeared. An enchanting TELÝÝ ÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝ TELÝÝÝÝ TELÝÝÝ FAXÝÝÝÝÝ city, became also the centre of the new faith. After sight met the wanderers’ INFORMATOR TURYSTYCZNY eyes – a vast valley 966, Mieszko I pulled down a small pagan temple surrounded by hills and (called “gontyna”) located among the surrounding adorned with a chain of BANKI, BANKOMATY I KANTORY BIURA PODRÓĩY small lakes. On the top of an "ANKÝ"0(Ý3!Ý ÝBANKOMAT "IUROÝ0ODRÛYÝ 3OLTUR 3URAIYAÝ4RADERSÝ3UNNYÝ4RAVEL ULÝ"OLES¬AWAÝ#HROBREGOÝ ULÝ"OLES¬AWAÝ#HROBREGOÝ ULÝ&RANCISZKAÅSKAÝ settlements. In 970, he build a bigger church, where, ÝÝ TELÝÝÝÝ TELÝÝÝÝ old, solitary oak standing on "ANKÝ0+/Ý3!Ý ÝBANKOMAT FAXÝÝÝÝ FAXÝÝÝÝ ULÝ*ANAÝ)))Ý3OBIESKIEGOÝ SOLTUR WPPL BIURO SUNNY TRAVELPL the peak of the highest hill, "ANKÝ0+/Ý"0Ý ÝBANKOMAT "IUROÝ0ODRÛYÝ /LIWIAÝ3KY "IUROÝ0ODRÛYÝin)MPET "IS the churchyard, Mieszko’s wife – Dąbrówka – was ULÝ#HROBREGOÝÝB ULÝ"OLES¬AWAÝ#HROBREGOÝ ULÝ:IELONYÝ2YNEKÝ TELFAXÝÝÝÝ TELÝÝÝÝ "ANKÝ":7Ý"+Ý3!Ý ÝBANKOMAT BIURO OLIWIASKYPL FAXÝÝÝÝ an eagle had made its nest. ULÝ3IENKIEWICZAÝ Ý2YNEKÝ WWWOLIWIASKYPL BIURO IMPET TOURPLburied. Within the stronghold, in the place of the "ANKÝ'OSPODARKIÝÚYWNOÏCIOWEJÝ3!Ý ÝBANKOMAT ULÝ-IESZKAÝ)ÝÝÝ "IUROÝ0ODRÛYÝ %LITAÝ4RAVEL !GENCJAÝ4URYSTYCZNA 52:¸$Ý-)%*3+) ULÝ$¹BRWKIÝ ULÝ7ARSZAWSKAÝÝ Delighted by this sight, Lech -IEJSKIEÝ#ENTRUMÝ)NNOWACJIÝIÝ0ROMOCJI TELÝÝÝÝ TELFAXÝÝÝÝ "ANKÝ/CHRONYÝÎRODOWISKAÝ3!Ý ÝBANKOMAT ULÝ,ECHAÝ ULÝ"UDOWLANYCHÝÝ FAXÝÝÝÝ TELÝÝÝÝ Ý'NIEZNO EMAILÝELITATRAVEL WPPL ATGNIEZNO INTERIAPLpresent St John church, he erected a stone castle with said: “This white eagle will TELÝÝÝÝ ULÝ2OOSEVELTAÝÝCÝ ÝKANTORÝ E MAILÝGNIEZNO GNIEZNOEU TELÝÝÝÝ "IUROÝ0ODRÛYÝ )BIZAÝ4RAVEL "IUROÝ/BS¬UGIÝ WWWGNIEZNOEU ULÝ"OLES¬AWAÝ#HROBREGOÝ 2UCHUÝ4URYSTYCZNEGO TELFAXÝÝÝÝ from now on be the coat 2YNEKÝÝ ÝKANTOR /PRACOWANIEÝGRAFICZNEÝWWW,)"2/POZNANPLÝ /DDZIA¬Ý044+Ý TELÝÝÝÝ WWWIBIZATRAVELPL :IEMIÝ'NIEÙNIEÅSKIEJa chapel called “ecclesia in castre”. ULÝ+ANCLÝ*ANAÝ«ASKIEGOÝ 2YNEKÝÝ ÝKANTOR TELFAXÝÝÝÝÝ of arms of my people and TELÝÝÝÝ During Bolesław Chrobry’s reign, a number of I shall build a stronghold significant events took place in Gniezno: setting up an around the old oak and # 1000 and the first royal coronation call it Gniezdno (from the !Ý" archbishopric in 1000, the emperor Otto III visited St Polish “nest” – gniazdo) in in 1025 (2). In memory of this eagle nest”. Adalbert’s tomb, which had been located by Bolesław And so he settled there with crucial his people, while Czech Chrobry in the basilica. The visit was celebrated by the turned to the South and Rus Congress of Gniezno, which proved to beSetting a up to the East (1). political event in the history of Poland. of an archdiocese in Gniezno and subordinate bishoprics in Krakow, Wrocław and Kołobrzeg, was Wydawnictwo announced. Gniezno stronghold LIBRO Publisher: also witnessed coronations of: ul. Ciechocińska 27 Mieszko II in 1025, Bolesław 60-473 Poznań Śmiały (called “The Bald”) in tel. +48 61 840 72 37 1076, Przemysł II in 1295 and www.libro.poznan.pl Wacław II Czeski in 1300. Photos: LIBRO, Municipal Office, J. Andrzejewski, M. Gruca and Promotion Centre of Innovation Text: Municipal Office,Municipal LIBRO Graphic design, typesetting, cover design: ISBN: 978-83-60035-39-9 THIS IS WHERE OUR PEOPLE CAME FROM In 1038, a Bohemian duke Brzetysław invaded a plague in 1608; two fires in 1613 and 1670; the town, leaving the settlements burnt to the three invasions of Swedes, which ravaged the ground and the cathedral demolished and whole country; imposition of tributes; endless plundered. That year, Kazimierz Odnowiciel requisitions; compulsory quartering of the moved the capital to Krakow, thus ending the invaders and marches of troops. All these were glorious chapter in Gniezno’s history. continuously wrecking the city and its trade. In the 13th and 14th century, the city was In the 18th century, the city was laboriously already surrounded by defensive walls and rebuilt and in 1768, it became the capital city of Gniezno coat of arms. a moat from the East. The city could be entered 3. the province. In 1793, as a result of the Second by three gates: Poznańska (Tumska), Toruńska Partition of Poland, Gniezno was occupied by the and Pyzdrska. In 1331, the city was invaded and Prussians. In 1819, another big fire determined destroyed by the Teutonic Knights. Large parts of CITY WALLS a new look of the city. The Market Square and Remains of the southern part the settlements surrounding the stronghold were of the former medieval a few streets along the former city walls were then burnt. The city developed economically and city fortifications. marked out and the cathedral was highlighted at GNIEZNO TODAY Currently, they are Modern Gniezno was was restored to its former glory during the reign a part of the wall the end of Bolesława Chrobrego Street. considerably expanded. of Kazimierz Wielki (Casimir III the Great). In the which marks off the church The construction of railway in 1872, was crucial After social and subsequent years, Gniezno further developed plot from the South and for the development of Gniezno. The railway economical from the East (3). In the transformations in the thanks to domestic and international trade. Every Museum of the Origins connected the city with Poznań, Toruń and 90-ties, Gniezno’s year, Gniezno was a site of big fairs. They were of the Polish State, the Bydgoszcz. After regaining independence in 1919, economic situation began visitors can see a model to stabilize. Thanks to attended by merchants from Silesia, Moravia, of a fortified stronghold (4). the city became the seat of poviat authorities chaired promotional campaigns Italy, Flanders and England, as well as Hamburg, by the appointed mayor of the city. The former city carried out by the reborn local government, some Nuremberg and Frankfurt. The flourishing trade coat of arms bearing the image of an eagle with well-known western influenced the development of the local craft. a crown, was restored. Gniezno became a thriving companies made At the beginning of the 16th century, there were education centre. By 1939, the city’s population investments in the city, thus contributing to the over 300 craft workshops in Gniezno. was over 33 thousand. On 21 January 1945, development of the local Despite the fires which struck the city in 1503, Gniezno was liberated from German occupation. In clothing and food industry. 4. New residential districts 1512, 1537 and 1548, Gniezno retained its 1985, the statue of Bolesław Chrobry, which had were built and the Old strength up until the 17th century. been destroyed during the II World War, was re- Town was renovated (6). Gniezno was repeatedly beset by Statues of Mieszko I erected in front of the cathedral. and of Bolesław Chrobry disasters and troubles: – Museum of the Origins of the Polish State (5) THE CATHEDRAL On the Lech Hill, there is one of the most VAULTS magnificent and the most treasured Polish In the cathedral vaults, visitors can see, among monuments – Gniezno Cathedral, also called others: a tombstone “the mother