Bishop's Palace

Place / Address:
ul. Franciszkańska 3



Initially, the seat of the Bishops of Krakow was located on Wawel Hill next to the cathedral. It was only in the fourteenth century, where the bishops had their property, stood the original palace. The first mention of it dates from the year 1384. Unfortunately, during a fire this part of the city in the fifteenth century palace almost completely burned down, and the only memento of it are stone cellars with Gothic portals. Several attempts reconstruction ended in failure, and only the work carried out by Gabriel Słoński (approx. 1567.) Gave the effect of a new, two-wing building with Renaissance arcaded loggia of the courtyard.
Another major overhaul was carried out in the years 1642-1647 at the request of Bishop Piotr Gembicki. Palace then obtained a shape similar to the current. From this period come from, among others, Both rusticated entrance portals and a staircase. After the damage done during the Swedish invasion (1655). The palace was renovated and extended to the end of the seventeenth century. Once again restored on the initiative of Bishop Jan Pawel Woronicza (proj. Stephen Humbert, 1817-1820), in the spirit of the romantic residence filled with national souvenir which was exposed in 16 halls. From that time remained partially classicist interior of generic paintings, historical paintings and relics Stachowicza Michael King Boleslaw the Brave. Most contemporary furnishings and collections, unfortunately, burned in a tragic fire in the town in July 1850, and subsequent reconstruction was completed in 1884.
The palace is inextricably linked with the person of Archbishop of Krakow Karol Wojtyla, who resided here in the years 1963-1978 and hosted later, during the pilgrimage to Krakow, already as Pope John Paul II. Kind of worship is surrounded by the famous "papal window" located above the main entrance of the palace from the street Franciscan. The evening talks, which the Holy Father - standing at the window - led the assembled in the square before the palace of the people, gathered crowds of faithful.