Sandomiria

Opatowska Town's Gate is the Gothic main entry into the city of Sandomierz, built in XIV century by the court of the King Casmir III The Great. The gate is topped with Renaissance attic. In the middle ages, Sandomierz used to be one of the most important urban centers not only of Lesser Poland (historical region), but also of the whole country.

The testament of King Bolesław Wrymouth divided Poland among his sons (Feudal Fragmentation of Poland 1138-1320). Sandomierz (first mention) was designated as a capital of one of the resulting mostly independent principalities, the Duchy of Sandomierz (where his son Duke Henry of Sandomir ruled).

The Queen of the Polish rivers. The city came into existence in the early Middle Ages, taking advantage of an excellent location at the junction of Vistula and San rivers, and on the path of important trade routes.

The Church of St. James also known as the Shrine of Blessed Sadok and 48 Dominican martyrs, Monastery of Dominicans probably built near 1211-1236. It is one of the oldest brick churches in Poland (probably in Europe) and the second oldest Dominican monastery in Poland. This church is a unique indirect form of Romano-Gothic style. The Roman ceramic decorations on the outside gabled walls are unusual and beautifully done. This was the second priory founded in Poland by Saint Hyacinth. During the Mongol invasion in 1260, Sadok and 48 other Dominicans were murdered there. Because of this martyrdom, the Polish Dominican friars may use red belts in their habits. There is also a holy icon of Our Lady of the Rosary - the title of Mary that is the most important to the Order.

Teutonic Order knights.

City Townhall was built shortly after the invasion of Lithuanians in 1349. Originally Gothic, was a square building topped with a tall octagonal tower. The southern part of the oldest (at the sundial) dates from this period. In the sixteenth century, it was rebuilt in the form of an elongated rectangle, then topped with a parapet. The tower was built in the seventeenth century probably by Gianmaria Mosca known as Jan Maria Padovano.

The underground route - is a combination of underground trade formations from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century, which is below the market. Its length is 450m, the lowest chamber is located at a depth of nearly 12m. The chamber 34 at various levels.

Johannes Longinus house, well-know in Europe chronicler, diplomat and secretary of the Bishop Zbigniew Oleśnicki. Jan Długosz is best known for his Annales seu cronici incliti regni Poloniae covering events in southeastern Europe, but also in Western Europe, from 965 to 1480, the year he died. His work was first printed in 1701-1703. He was sent by King Casimir IV Jagiellon of Poland on diplomatic missions to the Papal and Holy Roman Emperor courts, and was involved in the King's negotiations with the Teutonic Knights during the Thirteen Years' War (1454–66) and at the peace negotiations.

Sandomierz Royal Castle is a medieval structure in Sandomierz, Poland. It was built on a slope of Vistula River by Casimir III the Great and extended in the 16th century. The original building was blown up in 1656, leaving only the west wing standing. It was later transformed into a Renaissance styled residence with the west wing preserved as a museum.

The old town from Opatowska Gate.

In the course of the 13th century the city suffered grievous damage during raids by Tatars in 1241, 1259 and 1287. The old wooden buildings of the town were completely destroyed.

Cathedral Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a gothic cathedral constructed in 1360. Renovated in the baroque style in the 18th century, and received the rank of cathedral in 1818.

Memorial plate in The Church of St. James.

Collegium Gostomianum is a Mannerist style secondary school in Sandomierz, Poland. Founded in 1602, it is one of the oldest schools in Poland. College Gostomianum counts 6 floors, including three below ground level. The building still has the original spatial arrangement, decoration ceilings and unique in the country - an elliptical staircase.

From the east front of the town hall stands a statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception from 1776, brought in remembrance of the sacred mission in 1770.

Gorge of the Holy Queen Jadwiga, about 0.5 km long loess gorge located in the south-western part of the city. According to legend, this place was frequented by Queen Jadwiga, who was a frequent visitor to the nearby church (st. James, see 4. photo). The gorge is named in her honor.

The view on the old town.

The old part of the castle and the view on new Sandomierz. During the Deluge the castle was blown up by the retreating Swedish troops. The survived western wing of the castle was later rebuilt during the reign of king John III Sobieski between 1680-1688.

Johannes Longinus house, the main door.

Traditional Sandomierz's old mead barrel. The mead is alcoholic beverage that is produced by fermenting a solution of honey and water.

One of the Sandomierz tenements.

Original Sandomierz fudge.

The town's underground market.

The Vistula river and the new Sandomierz bridge.

Stained glass in the Church of St. James.

Bricked part of the church.

The main tower of the Sandomierz Cathedral.

The Church of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, historical Roman Catholic temple. The original wooden church was built in 1226 at the initiative of the Bishop of Cracow Iwo Odrowąż. It was transformed into Gothic, brick church in 1434. Between 1706 and 1719 transformed into baroque style.

One of the tenements, where new ones linked with the old ones.

The Sandomierz Cathedral.

Chicken with plums and buckwheat (wich is popular in Sandomierz and served with the main meal).

The 14th century castle was built on the site of the existing stronghold in the 10th century. Between 1146-1166 it was the seat of Duke Henry of Sandomir, son of Bolesław III Wrymouth. The Gothic castle was built by Casimir III the Great. The remnants of the Gothic structure are visible in the foundations of the octagonal tower of the south corner, which is the oldest part of the monument. The existing tower was built during the reign of Casimir IV Jagiellon in the 15th century as an integral part of the so-called Great House, the seat of the prince. During the reign of Sigismund I the Old and Sigismund II Augustus, the castle was enlarged.

The Cathedral tower.

Underground tunnel to the odl town's market.

The Sandomierz Castle.

The cathedral and the autumn.

The loess gorge. Loess is very popular kind of ground in this region.

Sandomierz panorama.

Old town's market.

The old town.

City Townhall.

The Old Town.

The view on the church from Opatowska Gate (see 1. photo)

City's cathedral facade.

The castle of Sandomierz.

Terra Sandomiriensis

The Baranów Sandomerski Castle is a Mannerist castle located in the town of Baranów Sandomierski in the Subcarpathian Voivodship, south-eastern Poland. It is one of the most important Mannerist structures in the country.

The castle is commonly known as the "little Wawel". According to Polish law, it is a "class zero monument".

Prince Józef Karol Lubomirski wedded its owner, Princess Teofila Ludwika Zasławska in 1683, and rebuilt her principal residence by way of commissioning the royal Dutch-Polish architect Tylman van Gameren from the court of Jan III Sobieski, who converted the castle, added the western wing gallery and embellished the interiors with profuse late-baroque stucco decorations.

Originally, a residency of the Lubomirski family, it now serves as a historical museum.

Arcade courtyard of the castle.

The castle was built around the years 1591–1606 in the style of Poland's Mannerism with richly decorated attics, side towers and arcade courtyard for Andrzej and Rafał Leszczyński (1526–1592) of the Wieniawa coat of arms. It is believed to be the work of a famous Italian architect, Santi Gucci, the court artist of king Stephen Báthory.

Arcade courtyard of the castle and mascarons on the columns.

One of the vaults in the castle chambers with coat-at-arms murals.

In about 1620 the castle was surrounded by bastion fortifications and in 1625 its chambers were adorned with early Baroque decorations executed by the eminent stuccodecorator Giovanni Battista Falconi.

Castle in Baranów Sandomierski passed successively into the possession of families: Wiśniowiecki, Sanguszko, Lubomirski, Małachowski, Potocki and Krasicki. In 1867 it was acquired by Feliks Dolański.

Ruins of the castle in Iłża. The history of the town Iłża dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was a Western Slavic gord. Since the 12th century, until 1789, Iłża belonged to the Bishops of Cracow. The settlement was twice destroyed by the Mongols (1241, 1260 Mongol invasion of Poland). In 1340, a stone castle was built here by Bishop Jan Grot, which was expanded in the 15th and 16th centuries. Now-a-days there are only stone ruins and the tower.