St. John the Baptist Church in Gniezno

The Church of St. John the Baptist in Gniezno is a Gothic structure dating back to the mid-14th century, with a tower from the 15th–16th century crowned by a Baroque copper-sheet helmet added in 1666. It features a single-nave layout with a narrower and lower chancel, cross-ribbed vaults, and richly decorated corbels. The interior is adorned with valuable Gothic polychrome paintings from the second half of the 14th century, depicting scenes from the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and various saints. The history of the church dates back to around 1179, when the Order of the Holy Sepulchre was established here, followed by the construction of a monastery and a hospital in 1243. The current church was built after 1331, likely as a reconstruction following destruction caused by the Teutonic Knights. The architecture is an example of brick masonry in the Polish bond style, with Gothic details such as pointed-arch windows and elaborately decorated ribs. The chancel features both plant and figural ornaments, and its polychrome decoration includes geometric motifs that emphasize the architectural lines. The nave contains numerous sculptures and heads of figures from the Old Testament. The monastery adjacent to the church was built in the second half of the 13th century and underwent various renovations, acquiring its Baroque form in the 18th century. After the dissolution of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in 1822, the building served as a school and is now privately owned. In recent years, historic wooden ceilings from 1789 have been uncovered during adaptive reuse efforts aimed at making the site accessible to the public, reflecting growing interest in its historical and cultural significance. The Church of St. John the Baptist is a vital part of Gniezno's cultural heritage, combining historical, architectural, and artistic values.