Church of St. Augustine and St. John the Baptist in Krakow

The Norbertine Nuns Monastery in Kraków, also known as the Church of St. Augustine and St. John the Baptist, was established in the second half of the 12th century, with its consecration likely taking place in 1181. The founder of the monastery was the knight Jaksa Gryfita, who, upon returning from a crusade, built the church and monastery here. The monastery, home to the oldest female religious congregation in Poland, has undergone numerous transformations, including destruction during Tatar invasions and fires in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its current form is the result of a reconstruction carried out between 1596 and 1626, under the leadership of Abbesses Brygida and Magdalena Otffinowska. The architecture of the building combines Romanesque and Baroque elements, and its interior is adorned with Baroque altars and a Neoclassical colonnade. Surrounded by legends, the monastery is one of Kraków's most treasured monuments, housing valuable collections of manuscripts and artistic textiles. Numerous traditions are associated with the monastery, including the Emaus indulgence, held annually on Easter Monday, and the procession of the Archconfraternity of the Passion of Christ. Legends connected to the monastery include that of the "drowning bell," which was said to ring, calling the sisters to pray for the souls of drowned merchants. In the 20th century, the monastery was affected by modern changes, such as the regulation of the Rudawa River, which sparked controversy among heritage enthusiasts. The Zwierzyniec Mill, first mentioned in 1254, was closely linked to the monastery and served its residents for centuries until its demolition in 1908. Situated in a picturesque location, the Norbertine Nuns Monastery continues to play an important role in the cultural and religious life of Kraków, remaining a significant landmark in the historical capital of Lesser Poland.