Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sosnowiec

The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sosnowiec is a monumental temple, built between 1893 and 1899 according to the design of architect Karol Kozłowski. The structure, executed in the Neo-Romanesque style with Neo-Gothic elements, takes the form of a three-aisled basilica with a transept and a lower church that currently serves as a crypt. The church, built on the plan of a Latin cross, is distinguished by its massive tower, and its facade, with buttressed elevations, is enriched with arcaded friezes and architectural portals made of sandstone. The interior is divided into three levels, with inter-aisle arcades, massive columns, triforia, and a ribbed vault. The cathedral's furnishings, mostly created in the early 20th century, impress with their eclectic style, including a Neo-Mannerist main altar, a Neo-Romanesque pulpit, and Neo-Baroque side altars. The most valuable element is the Young Poland polychrome by Włodzimierz Tetmajer, covering significant areas of the temple with rich iconography. The cathedral plays an important role in regional life as a place of remembrance for historical events and figures associated with Poland, such as the battle of the January Uprising insurgents and the memory of soldiers of the Home Army. A fire in 2014 destroyed the roof and damaged the polychrome, but thanks to public generosity, the church was rebuilt. The cathedral basilica, which gained the status of the cathedral of the Sosnowiec diocese in 1992 and the title of Minor Basilica in 1999, is not only a place of worship but also an important cultural and historical landmark.