Today, we try to show You Nowa Huta from slightly different perspective. It is worth knowing that settlement existed in this area long before the communist leadership decided to build here an ideal socialist city. During Your sightseeing, see places such as the medieval Cistercian abbey in Mogila or Jan Matejko’s residence in Krzeslawice. Mogila or Krzeslawice were separate villages in the past. In the 50’s Nowa Huta simply absorbed them. Do not forget about the monuments in Nowa Huta which are older than Nowa Huta itself!
Cistercianswere settled inMogiłain the firsthalf of the 13thcentury. They camefromtheSilesian abbey in Lubiążat the invitation of the Krakow BishopIwo Odrowąż. In the abbey church ofthe Assumption ofthe Blessed VirginMary and St.Wenceslaus, You can see frescosbyStanislawSamostrzelnikthe most eminentPolishpainter ofthe first half of the 16th-century and the 13th-centurymechanical clock (the oldest in Poland)! The abbeygathersmany wonderfulmonuments andworks of art as well as dazzlinglibrary andarchive. Visitingthe monasteryis also an opportunity tosee an example of the unique Cistertian architecture and learn something about Cistertian spirituality. VisitingNowa Hutawithout visiting the Abbey? We are notable toimagine such situation!
The monks from the Abbey also take care about another church – Gothic wooden temple of St. Bartholomew situated nearby in a very picturesque location. The church was built in the 15-th century and survived till today (it is another foundation of wealthy Odrowąż family). During the summer holidays church is open every weekend. Its interior is totally worth seeing because of the 18th-century ceiling paintings with the centrally located image of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, one of the most important figures in the early history of the Cistercian Order.
In a 4-acre beautiful park in Nowa Huta Krzeslawice, You can see charming 19th-century manor house (former property of Jan Matejko, one of the most famous Polish painters). Nowadays, it is a museum dedicated to his life and works. Krzesławice village has a long history dating back to the 12th century (it originally belonged to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre monastery in a fairly distant Miechów). For a time, a priest and famous philosopher Hugo Kołłątaj was the tenant of Krzesławice. The existing manor house was built in the 19th century by the Kirchmayers family, from which Matejko acquired it, arranging here a kind of a summer residence where he liked to spend warm months. During Your Nowa Huta sightseeing, You can have a nice moment of relaxation in this charming place. Speaking about Matejko, we would like to note that there are many places connected with this very interesting character in Kraków. The most important exhibition dedicated to his works and family can be seen in the House of Matejko (where he lived for years) in Florianska Street.
Nowa Huta Sightseeing
Nowa Huta SightseeingDevotees of sacred art should also visit the church of St. Vincent and the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Nowa Huta Pleszów. You can see there a part of the baroque equipment from the Krakow Church of All Saints (the temple was demolished in the 19th), for example magnificent high altar made of black marble.
Do not forget about the very unique and mysterious monument from the pagan times – the Wanda Mound, a smaller twin of the great Krak Mound in Podgorze. For centuries, the Mound was considered as a grave of the legendary Wanda (local Princess, who did not want to marry a German prince and kill herself). It is hard to figure out, what was the real purpose of the embankment. Is it a barrow tomb or perhaps a part of the monumental Celtic astronomical observatory? There are many hypotheses. However, the name of the village (Mogla means ‘a tomb’ in Polish) comes from this mysterious object. As you can see, Nowa Huta is full of amazing surprises.
Our Nowa Huta sightseeing with a guide have included Mogila Abbey and Krzesławice, but we are open to any changes and Your own ideas!
