POZNAŃ'S CATHEDRAL

The Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul rises on the location of Poland's first house of Christian worship. It was on this site that in 968 a basilica with three naves was built. That original building was destroyed in 1038 during a raid by the Czech prince Brzetyslaw. The current structure is the third cathedral standing on the site it was built in the gothic style during the reign of Kazimierz the Great. It acquired a classical facade in 1798 and was extensively restored during the 19th century, at which time the Golden Chapel was added. Located In the latter chapel is the tomb of Mieszko I and his son Boleslaw I, the first crowned King of Poland The tomb is surmounted with statues of the two monarchs sculpted by Christian Rauch. As a consequence of WWII military activities, the Cathedral suffered significant damage. During restoration, the original gothic elevation of the facade was reinstated.

Some slight distance in front of the Cathedral stands the Church of the Holy Virgin. Excavations in the immediate periphery of the church have reveled that stretching under it and extending on both sides of it are the remains of the palace of Mieszko I.