St. Joseph's Basilica and the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Poznań

The Basilica of St. Joseph and the Monastery of the Discalced Carmelites in Poznań is a Baroque temple located on St. Adalbert's Hill, considered the first in Poland dedicated to St. Joseph and the diocesan sanctuary of this saint. It was built between 1658 and 1687 according to the design of Krzysztof Bonadura the Elder, and its appearance was inspired by Roman Carmelite churches. After a complex history, including multiple changes in ownership and transformations during the Prussian and Evangelical periods, the temple was returned to Catholics after World War I. In 1945, the Discalced Carmelites resumed their activities, and the reconstruction was carried out while preserving the Baroque style. In 2017, Pope Francis elevated the basilica to the rank of a minor basilica, and in 2009 it was established as the diocesan sanctuary of St. Joseph. St. Joseph is particularly venerated here, and the cult began with the establishment of a brotherhood in 1666. The temple houses an image of St. Joseph, which was crowned in 2014, attracting many faithful and being widely broadcast. Architecturally, the basilica has a three-nave interior with barrel vaults and is decorated with numerous works of art, although many of them have been destroyed over the centuries. Interestingly, a plenary indulgence can be obtained at the sanctuary by reciting the Our Father and the Creed. The church is also the burial place of Mikołaj Skrzetuski, the inspiration for a character in the novel "With Fire and Sword." Nearby the temple are the Cemetery of the Meritorious Great Poles and the monument to the centenary of the Polish Sightseeing Society.