Cistercian Route The Loop of Wielkopolska and Lubuskie Region

Cistercian Route The Loop of Wielkopolska and Lubuskie Region

Cistercian event in Ląd nad Wartą, photo: Z. Schmidt

Cistercian Route.

The Loop of Wielkopolska and Lubuskie Region

WARSZAWA

www.wielkopolska.travel www.turystyka-kulturowa-wlkp.pl

Today some historians believe that the Cistercians were the first to entertain the idea of a “united Europe”. Their monasteries, scattered throughout Europe, were built according to the same model; the same pattern of life was followed everywhere. Cistercian abbots were required to attend the General Chapter held annually in Cîteaux, France. It was there that in 1098 the first Cistercian Abbey was established as a new division of the Benedictine order.

The general chapter meetings allowed for the taking care of the internal affairs of the order, provided an opportunity to discuss opinions concerning current events occurring in Europe and to share various ideas, including novelties related to agriculture. Today, the map of Europe showing the locations of Cistercian monasteries reveals how powerful the order once was, and indicates the extent of the cultural legacy it left behind.

Ora et labora (Pray and work) was the main motto of Cistercians. Monks were brought to specific locations by bishops, clergy and powerful magnates in order to implement the Gregorian reforms of the Church. Cistercians used to settle in unpopulated places where, aided by donors, and by means of their hard work, they would build monasteries and churches. Over time the monasteries would be surrounded by settlements which later transformed into towns.

The Cistercians came to Poland in the 12th century. Their first endeavours to establish their monasteries were conducted simultaneously in Łekno (the region of Wielkopolska) and in Jędrzejów (in Małopolska) – the former received the status of an independent abbey earlier.

In the Middle Ages in Poland there were 26 Cistercian abbeys for men and 17 for women; today there are only four monasteries for monks – in Wąchock, Mogiła, Szczyrzyc and Jędrzejów, as well as a few priories and residences. Yet, throughout Poland we can see the former magnificent Cistercian churches and monasteries, or relics of Cistercian

buildings, like these in Łekno near Wągrowiec which have been discovered and are being investigated by archaeologists from Poznań.

In 1990 the Council of Europe passed a decision about establishing a new tourist trail – the Cistercian Route.

One of the sub-trails runs from Portugal, through France and Germany to Poland, and leads to all Cistercian monasteries in our country. Four loops of the route have been delineated in various parts of Poland: separate sub-routes in the Małopolska and Silesia regions, one running across the border of Wielkopolskie and Lubuskie provinces, and one spanning the regions of Pomorze, Kujawy and Chełmno district. An increasing number of communes and institutions are involved in developing the trail. In 2003 the Cistercian Route Coordinating Council was established under the leadership of the Polish Cistercian Congregation. It focuses on providing support for organizations and promotion of the Cistercian Route in Poland, and on coordinating efforts aimed at publishing the history and achievements of Cistercians, protecting their cultural legacy, and presenting the importance of the “grey monks” for both the development of specific regions and the historical links with Western Europe.

The Wielkopolska loop of the Cistercian Route can be explored in various ways. We suggest three trails which may be followed separately or linked in a number of combinations.

Yet, no matter which option you choose, you should remember that the significance of the Cistercian Route can be understood in two ways. On the one hand it is a pilgrimage trail, leading to Cistercian and post-Cistercian sanctuaries, therefore it may be seen as a religious experience; on the other hand, this is a tourist trail which allows you to learn about the past. Thus the journey may serve as a means to a better understanding of both the Cistercian architecture and spirituality.

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Interior of the church in Owińska, photo: Z. Schmidt Church in Owińska, photo: Z. Schmidt

Trail I: Owińska – Wągrowiec – Tarnowo Pałuckie – Łekno Owińska

four mighty pillars. The main nave was surrounded with a passage way, there are also side naves, choir and chancel.

The interior features Baroque furnishings dating from the time of its construction in the 18th century. Particularly impressive is the main altar with a figure of the Virgin Mary placed in the middle on a column. It is surrounded by six carved helical columns modelled after those in St. Peter’s baldachin in the Vatican Basilica. Of note are also the choir stalls with intarsia ornaments, as well as the polychromes on the church ceiling and on the walls adjoining the altars in the side naves, painted by Adam Swach, a Franciscan from Poznań.

Swach’s works contain numerous Cistercian references. Four paintings ornamenting the pillars which support the large, octagonal dome over the main nave, depict three Biblical scenes and Cistercian nuns adoring Divine Providence – among these there is an image of the church and the monastery from 1728. Over the organ loft we can also see Cistercian nuns and monks, shielded by the protective cloak of the Holy Mother. The image is accompanied with a Latin inscription saying: “I shall protect and shield this order until the end of time”.

Although the oldest archaeological findings confirm that there were human settlements here in 4000 BC, the written history of Owińska (12 kilometres north east of Poznań) starts in the mid 13th century, when the princely brothers Przemysł I and Bolesław Pobożny founded a convent for Cistercian nuns who were brought here from Trzebnica. The convent was granted ownership over the nearby villages and forests and as a result was unusually prosperous. The first monastery buildings and the church erected by the nuns were made of stone.

Cistercian monks living nearby provided assistance for the convent and pastoral care for the parish. In Owińska, the nuns conducted a school for girls from noble families. For nearly 600 years, until the dissolution of the order by the Prussian authorities, the Cistercian nuns greatly impacted the region’s development.

In the early 1700s they built a new late Baroque church to a design by Giovanni Catenazzi, and then Pompeo Ferrari, incorporating the walls of the former Romanesque and Gothic churches. The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist had a square floor plan and a dome supported on

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Church and monastery in Wągrowiec, photo: Archive of the Town Office in Wągrowiec

Town parish church in Wągrowiec, photo: Z. Schmidt

Wągrowiec

A quadrilateral cloister with a garth in the middle adjoins the church from the south. In the 19th century the original building was extended to include a newly built western wing. In 1797 the Prussian authorities confiscated the Cistercian estate and granted it to Sigmund Otto von Treskow and in 1835, after they dissolved the convent, the nuns were relocated to the Cistercian convent in Ołobok. The former monastery building was converted into an asylum for the mentally ill, which later was expanded and existed until 1939. At the start of World War II the Nazis carried away and then slaughtered over 1,000 patients, both adults and children.

Following the war the former Cistercian convent has been home to an educational facility for visually impaired children, which was named after the “Sons of the Regiment” .

The history of Wągrowiec, from its beginning until 1796, when the monastery estate was taken over by the Prussian state (ultimately the monastery was dissolved in 1835) was linked with the Cistercians. In 1319 the settlement existing here earlier was purchased from Sędziwój Wojciechowicz by monks, who had lived in the nearby Łekno since 1153.

Under their administration the small village grew rapidly and by 1381 it received municipal rights. In 1451 Wągrowiec became a monastery town; burghers as well as craftsmen were required to pay tribute for the monastery.

Wągrowiec Abbey was quite prosperous (it owned approximately 30 villages in the 1500s) and ranked high on the Polish map of Cistercian monasteries. It was here that during the General Chapter held in 1580 the Polish Province of Cistercians was established – it broke its former affiliations to replace them with new organizational and legal ties. The province was headed by the Commissioner General, who was responsible for inspecting and supervising specific monasteries throughout the province to oversee their organizational and legal matters, and to ensure the spiritual and moral integrity of the monks.

In the late 1300s the Cistercians ini-

Church of St. John the Baptist pl. Przemysława 12, 62-005 Owińska tel. 61 812 65 02 www.owinska.pl Special Educational Facility for Visually Impaired Children pl. Przemysława 9, 62-005 Owińska tel. 61 812 04 86 www.niewidomi.edu.pl

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tiated efforts to relocate their seat from Łekno to Wągrowiec, and they started the construction of their church and monastery here. The church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was completed ca. 1455, and the monastery in 1512. Yet, the original Gothic church is no longer there. In the late 1600s Jan Catenazzi rebuilt it in Baroque style. Reconstruction of the church and monastery, destroyed by fire 30 years earlier, started in 1778, and continued until the end of the 18th century.

During the partitions of Poland, when its parts were acquired by Prussia, Russia and Austria, the church was used by the local parish and the monastery was converted into a court house and a prison. After Poland’s independence was restored in 1918, the monastery buildings were regained by the Catholic Church which established here a boarding school under a patronage of the Archbishop. Again the church and monastery were destroyed in 1945 when the Nazis set fire to it. The process of their reconstruction lasted until 1968. Following World War II Cistercians made attempts to bring monks back to Wągrowiec, yet to no avail The only remains of the old church furnishings are the late Baroque altarpiece, partly reconstructed after WWII, and the late Gothic sculpture covered with a polychrome and depicting the Madonna and Child. It dates from ca. 1510 and was made of lime wood in the St. Wolfgang craft workshop in Toruń.

The three-wing post-Cisterian monastery building adjoins the church from the south. This is a reconstruction of the late Baroque structure, partly erected on the Gothic walls of the earlier building. The monastery surrounds a garth with a well and a figure of St. John of Nepomuk.

The parish Church of St. James the Apostle was also founded by Cistercians. The Gothic structure, which we can see now, was built in the mid 16th century on the site formerly occupied by a wooden church, and it was consecrated in 1575. Apart from the vestibule, which was added in 1911, the building

has been preserved in its original condition and is one of the most valuable religious landmarks in Wielkopolska. The church with typical eastward orientation, was built of brick and features early Renaissance gables. Its interior retains furnishings from various periods, in style ranging from late Renaissance to Rococo.

The main altar from ca. 1595, in the form of a triptych richly decorated with carvings, is the work of Mateusz Kossior from Poznań. Unfortunately, the paintings which once were a part of the altar, were taken to Warsaw in 1939 for conservation works, and burnt there at the outset of WWII. Today in Wągrowiec we can see their copies based on old photographs and painted by Leon Wróblewski in 1947.

The notable furnishings include a very impressive pulpit from 1593, with marquetry ornaments and Biblical quotations as well as the Renaissance side altars. Adjoining the chancel is the uniquely beautiful Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary from 1586. Its ceiling is covered with Renaissance polychromes depicting Christ, the Evangelist, Polish saints as well as prophets and the Church Fathers. The chapel walls are embellished with paintings, as well.

In front of the parish church we can see the bust of Father Jakub Wujek. Born in Wągrowiec, he was an outstanding biblical scholar and was the first to translate the Bible into Polish. This fact is commemorated by the inscription on the pedestal: „He gave the Holy Word to the Polish language”. Born in 1541 in Wągrowiec, the future Jesuit was first taught in the local school established and conducted by the Cistercians.

Another notable person was a Cistercian monk, Adam from Wągrowiec, organist and composer working in the local monastery in the 1600s. Recently over 20 various works written by him were discovered.

Cistercian landmarks which can still be seen in Wągrowiec include a former abbot’s house, (Opacka Street). Today the house erected in the late 18th century (and restored in the 1980s and 90s) holds the Regional Museum,

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Church in Tarnowo Pałuckie, photo: Z. Schmidt

with a noteworthy collection of contemporary amateur art inspired by biblical themes.

1448, when a dispute concerning this matter between Abbot Gotfryd and Stanisław Gherlin was to be resolved by the Custodian of Poznań Province and Apostolic Commissioner Mikołaj from Sobótka. Rather than settle the conflict, the Commissioner excommunicated the Cistercians following a demand made by Stanisław Gherlin. The monks took their appeal to the Holy See, which carefully investigated the claim of the Cistercians from Łekno to the parish in Tarnowo Pałuckie, and finally confirmed their rights thereto. The decision was released in the form of a special document issued in Rome on 9 October 1448.

The first church, which was a wooden structure on stone foundations, was built in the mid-13th century. The Church of St. Nicholas, which we can see here today, was built in the same location in the last quarter of the 14th century. In terms of the complete surviving structure this is the oldest wooden church in Poland - the only elements dating from later times are the tower (1639) and the roof truss.

This sensational information was confirmed by results of three consecutive dendrochronology tests performed in 1999. The main nave and the sacristy turned out to be three hundred years

Monastery Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary ul. Klasztorna 21, 62-100 Wągrowiec tel. 67 262 01 25 www. klasztor-wagrowiec.yoyo.pl Church of St. James the Apostle ul. Klasztorna 4, 62-100 Wągrowiec tel. 67 262 09 99 Regional Museum ul. Opacka 15, 62-100 Wągrowiec tel. 67 26 85 911, 515 04 19 38 www.opatowka.pl Open: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 - 16:00 Sundays and holidays – 12:00 – 16:00

Tarnowo Pałuckie

The wooden church in Tarnowo Pałuckie (6 kilometres north east of Wągrowiec) from the beginning was administered by Cistercians from Łekno. Yet, on some occasions the monks had to strive to retain custody of the place. This was the case in 1447-

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the ground floor. The nave is covered with a ceiling and in the chancel there is faux barrel vault. The main altar in the late Renaissance style contains a painting of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the middle, and images of St. Nicholas and St. Margaret on the sides.

Church of St. Nicholas Tarnowo Pałuckie 1, 62-105 Łekno tel. 67 261 60 84

Łekno – Klasztorek (now Tarnowo Pałuckie)

Today relics of the oldest Cistercian abbey in Poland are buried deep underground in Łekno. We would hardly know anything about them if not for the archaeological explorations which were conducted here during 1982-2007 by Łekno Archaeological Expedition of the Institute of History at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, under the guidance of Professor Andrzej M. Wyrwa.

At the start of the explorations the only evidence that was known said that a Cistercian abbey had existed here from 1153, when a monastery was founded by Zbylut, until the late 1300s when it was relocated to Wągrowiec; prior to that the location was occupied by a fortified settlement which was mentioned in 1136 by a Papal Bull of Innocent II. The researchers also assumed the likely location of both the settlement and the abbey. Years of excavations and multidisciplinary research resulted in spectacular discoveries, carrying a wealth of knowledge about the gray monks in Łekno.

Located along the bank of Łekno Lake, the area known as Klasztorek (little monastery) by reference to its Cistercian past, was occupied by settlements since the late Paleolithic period (12000-8000 BC) and holds evidence of Roman, Mediaeval and modern influences. After the departure of the monks in the 1300s, a cemetery existed here until the 1500s.

The process of establishing the abbey in Łekno is likely to have started in the 1140s, and

Polychrome in the church in Tarnowo Pałuckie, photo: Z. Schmidt

older than it was believed earlier. The oldest wood used for its construction was cut down in the late autumn and winter of 1373/74.

Additionally, the small church in Tarnowo has long been renowned for a superb 17th century polychrome covering virtually every square inch of its interior. Painted ca.

1639, presumably by Walenty Podczosik from Kcynia, the images on the walls of the nave depict scenes from the lives of St. Nicholas and St. Margaret. On the ceiling we can see the Adoration of the Holy Trinity and coffers with images of the prophets and the Church Fathers. The walls of the chancel are embellished with paintings depicting scenes from the New Testament, and on its ceiling we can see floral patterns.

The single-nave church of St. Nicholas is a log-cabin structure. The chancel is narrower and closed with a straight wall. Adjoining the nave in the south is a small vestibule and in the west – a tower with a vestibule on

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concluded with a founding document issued in 1153, in which Zbylut, the founder of the abbey says that: „...according to his abilities, full of respect, he invited, duly accepted and settled” Cistercians in Łekno. This is the oldest founding document for a monastery whose original has been preserved in Poland and, what is more, in three copies. One of these is kept in the National Archive in Poznań (the oldest document in its holdings), the other two are stored in the Archdiocese Archive in Gniezno.

In the mid 12th century, after the fortified settlement had been abandoned, the area became home for Cistercians brought here from Altenberg near Cologne. Łekno was directly affiliated with Altenberg, and indirectly with Morimond Abbey, one of the oldest branches of the Cistercian Abbey in Cîteaux. Later the monastery in Łekno established two more branches, both in Wielkopolska - in Ląd on the Warta river, and in Obra.

Initially the monastery in Łekno was granted an estate consisting of three villages, yet, over time the abbey grew to be one of the most prosperous Cistercian monasteries in Poland. Around the mid 1300s it owned 59 villages around Łekno as well as estates in Pomerania, and numerous lakes, mills, vineyards and inns.

Cistercians built their first churchoratory in the mid 12th century. In the second half of the 13th century the original structure was transformed into a hall church, built of stone and brick; it was 42 metres long and 14 metres wide. Its nave was covered with a ceiling, and the roof with tiles, parts of which were found during the archaeological excavations.

In the first half of the 14th century the church building developed cracks and in spite of numerous efforts to repair it, it could not be saved.

The damage to the church resulting from the collapse of its structure was probably the main cause of relocating the abbey to Wągrowiec. The archaeological excavations revealed that the monastery church was built on dugouts of the former fortified settlement. These would sub-

side under the excessive weight of the church, which then began to sink into the ground and developed cracks.

The first fortified settlement in Łekno was established in the third quarter of the 7th century – indeed this is the oldest known early mediaeval settlement of this type in Poland. It burnt down in the first half of the 10th century, and was rebuilt in the middle of that century in accordance with the needs of the new state which was being established at the time by Piast dynasty. In the late 10th and early 11th century a Romanesque rotunda was built here, being one of the first structures of this type in Poland.

It was approximately 12 metres long, and the internal diameter of the nave was approx. 6.8 metres. Close examination of its relics discovered fragments of architectural details made of anhydrous gypsum plaster, which are a rarity in Poland. Some of these bear traces of polychromes.

The settlement was presumably abandoned after 1136-1138, following the changes in the organization of the state which took place after the death of Prince Bolesław Krzywousty.

Fifteen years later the area was acquired by the Cistercians. The site occupied by the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Peter was surrounded by Łekno Lake from the north, east and partly from the south. On its western side there was a small bay. The only connection with the land was on its south-western side. It is assumed that a moat was created across the peninsula, connecting the bay and the lake, therefore the land on which the Cistercians built their abbey was an artificial island, and in compliance with the rule of the order, it was remote from other human settlements.

Unfortunately, what is left of the Łekno monastery and the two fortified settlements is buried deep in the ground. While the archaeological excavations were carried out, it was possible to visit their site, each year in July. Today, all that remains there are fields and meadows, and the place is waiting for an open air archaeological exposition to be established.

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Trail II: Ląd – Ołobok

frieze lining the plafond is another artistic representation of Cistercian history – it is adorned with 35 cartouches holding images of local Abbots and Prince Mieszko Stary. Today the Abbey Hall houses the library of the theological seminary, whose holdings include incunabula and antique prints. We can also savour the history and traditions of the grey monks of Ląd while studying the oil paintings which decorate the walls of the 14th century cloister arcades.

In the late 18th and in the 19th century the Cistercians in Ląd faced gathering clouds. First, in 1796 they were deprived of their land by the Prussians, and then in 1819 the Tsarist authorities closed the abbey. Although Capuchin monks settled into the buildings in 1850, the monastery was closed again in 1863 as a penalty for the support granted by the community to participants of the January Uprising against Russian rule. Only in 1921 were the post-Cistercian buildings acquired by Salesian monks, who are in charge of the place today. During World War II the place was used by the Nazis as a transit camp for clergy, and then was a seat of Hitlerjugend. For over half a century now the buildings have been home to the Higher Theological Seminary conducted by the Salesian Order.

Higher Theological Seminary of the Salesian Order Ląd 101, 62 - 406 Lądek tel. 63 276 33 23, fax 63 274 37 85 www.lad.pl

Ląd

Even though the history of Ląd goes back to the 9th century, when the area held a fortified settlement guarding the crossing of the Warta river, and then in the mid 11th century it is assumed to have been a seat of a castellany, still its fame is mainly connected with the Cistercians. The church and monastery, which they left behind, constitute the most magnificent post-Cistercian complex in Wielkopolska and have been entered on the List of the Monuments of History.

It was Prince Mieszko Stary who brought the monks to Ląd from Łekno. The precise date is unknown as it turned out that the founding document dated 23 April 1145 was forged by Cistercians in the latter half of the 13th century. A majority of historians believe the foundation was finally approved after 1193. This was when the original monastery and a Romanesque church were built. The latter did not survive but in the course of later alterations its remains were incorporated into the new structure.

The features which today can be admired in Ląd date from the time between the mid 17th and mid 18th century, that is the heyday of the order. The Baroque style alterations of the church and monastery, supervised by the most exquisite architects, started in 1651, the times of Abbot Jan Zapolski. He also aimed at providing education for young noblemen, and during the Swedish invasion he raised a military unit. However, the abbey in Ląd enjoyed the greatest prosperity under the rule of Abbot Antoni Łukomski, who continued the work of his predecessor and initiated the construction of the western part of the church, furnished its interior, heightened the church towers and reconstructed the monastery. Additionally, he rebuilt and restored some churches throughout the monastery estate comprising a few dozen villages.

Church in Ląd, photo: Z. Schmidt

The Cistercian church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, and St. Nicholas in Ląd is crowned with a magnificent 38-metre dome designed by Pompeo Ferrari, with a splendid polychrome by Georg Neunhertz. It depicts the apotheosis of the Church, and its contents were composed by Abbot Antoni Łukomski. The polychrome on the “small dome” (over the transept) represents saints adoring the Holy Trinity. The southern arm of the transept was ornamented by Adam Swach with scenes from the life of Bernard of Clairvaux, the founder of the Cistercian order; the paintings in the northern arm depict the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins and scenes of good and bad death. Towards the end of the 1600s the vaults of the chancel and transept, as well as the cornice framing them were embellished with stucco ornaments.

Other noteworthy features of the post-Cistercian church include: the three-tier main altar of Mary, Help of Christians which was built in Silesia, in 1721 in the workshop of Ernest Broger and Jan Erntygeler; three side altars crafted by Pompeo Ferrari; a monument organ constructed by a Cistercian monk, Józef Koegler; and the choir stalls dating from ca.

1680 and created by another Cistercian monk,

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Church in Ołobok, photo: Z. Schmidt

Bartłomiej Adrian. Adam Swach’s paintings over the stalls, depicting scenes from the life and history of Cistercian monks, bear witness to the fact the church was once owned by this order.

Next to the church there is the monastery, also embellished with frescoes by Adam Swach and the oratory chapel of St. James the Apostle with a group of frescoes from the second half of the 1300s ranking among the most valuable examples of medieval art in Poland.

The paintings on the chapel ceiling depict scenes from the Last Judgement.

The chapter house, from the second half of the 1300’s, is covered with a Gothic vault supported on a single pillar. Its Baroque furnishings include the altarpiece by Pompeo Ferrari as well as 18th century paintings with scenes from the Old Testament. Images of saints and beatified Cistercians adorn the backs of the stalls surrounding the chapter house.

On the second floor of the monastery we can see an imposing former Abbey Hall with a large plafond of 171 square metres, painted

by Adam Swach in 1722. It depicts personifications of the seven deadly sins approaching the abyss, and a procession of the holy bearing crosses and following Christ into heaven. The

Ołobok

Cistercian nuns came here in 1213 from Trzebnica in Lower Silesia. Their convent in Ołobok was founded in 1211 by the Prince of Wielkopolska, Władysław Odonic. Both the monastery buildings and the original church consecrated in 1213 were made of wood.

The abbey in Ołobok played a part in establishing the convent in Łubnice on the Prosna river, which was founded in 1239-41 by

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the Castellan of Kraków, Klemens Jaksa of the house of Gryfici-Świebodzice. Yet, the priory in Łubnice existed for only a few years and in late 1252 and early 1253 it was relocated to the convent in Obłok, and combined with it.

In the 1630s the most remarkable female scientist of those times, Maria Kunicka (Cunitz) and her husband, a mathematician and astronomer Elias Kreczmar (who was granted the noble title von Löwen for his work Horologium Zodiacale) received shelter in nearby Łubnice. Arriving from Świdnica they were aided by the prioress of the Cistercian convent in Obłok, Zofia Łubieńska, who provided support to persecuted Protestant families. It was here, in Łubnice, in the vicinity of the Cistercian nunnery that Urania propitia the most important work by Maria Cunitz, herself a remarkable astronomer and mathematician, was created. This work, which was an improvement on Kepler’s Rudolphine Tables brought her worldwide fame and recognition.

For centuries the convent in Obłok was also a school for girls; here they could learn Polish, German and French, as well as Geography, History, Arithmetic, and various skills, such as playing musical instruments, dancing, needlework and embroidery. Today it is believed that straw plaiting and embroidery, which are trademark crafts in Obłok, date back from the times when nuns taught these handicrafts to girls, thus the local nunnery influenced the area not only spiritually but also culturally.

The Cistercian property was confiscated by the Prussians in 1796, and then in 1836 the convent was dissolved, although nuns were allowed to stay in the building. The last Cistercian nun died here in 1864. In 1882 the monastery was dismantled, the only part which was left is its southern wing adjoining the church.

The churches, on the other hand, have survived. The first one, which was built by the nuns in the late 15th/early 16th century, was a brick structure adjoining the four-wing cloister.

The convent church of St. John the Evangelist,

even though originally built in the late Gothic style, owes its current appearance to alterations executed in the 17th and 18th century. Its Rococo furnishings also date from that time. The main altar holds sculptures of Cistercian saints, yet the most impressive feature of the church is the amply decorated private pew of Prioress Brygida Gorzeńska.

In the final quarter of the 16th century the Cistercian nuns from Obłok began the construction of a wooden church of St. John the Baptist. In the mid 18th century a spire was added, and a vestibule was built in 1835.

The log church with planking on its outer walls holds late Renaissance altars in its interior, the main one dating from 1600 and the side altar from the first half of the 17th century. Today the church stands in the middle of a cemetery.

Church of St. John the Evangelist ul. Kościelna 42, 63 - 405 Ołobok tel. 62 739 01 30 Concert in the church in Przemęt, photo: Z. Schmidt

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Concert in the church in Przemęt, photo: Z. Schmidt

Church in Przemęt, photo: Z. Schmidt

Trail III: Przemęt – Kaszczor – Wieleń – Obra – Paradyż – Bledzew - Rokitno Przemęt

which can be admired today, was supervised first by Georgio Catenazzi and then Giovanni Catenazzi. It was consecrated in 1696.

The former Cistercian abbey, which today is a parish church, is a three-nave basilica with two towers on its western frontage, crowned with openwork copper spires. Its interior furnishings mainly represent Baroque and Rococo styles, and include particularly noteworthy ornaments carved in black oak retrieved from bogs along the Obra river. The bog-wood was used to make intricately carved choir stalls, the Abbott’s chair, the confessionals and benches. The only element older than the church walls is the Gothic figure of the Virgin and Child dated to ca. 1430. Other valuable artefacts from the 17th and 18th century include: chalices, monstrance, reliquary,a tin for communion bread, and a large processional crucifix.

For two hundred years after relocating to Przemęt the Cistercians were not very prosperous and they could not afford brick buildings for their monastery until the early 17th century.

Following the partitions of Poland,

Cistercians came to Przemęt in 1408 and remained here until the 19th century, when the monastery was dissolved by the Prussians (1835). Monks who had earlier settled in Kaszczor and Wieleń Zaobrzański received a permit from King Władysław Jagiełło to repurchase Przemęt from the Gryżyński brothers, who had acquired it as a security deposit.

The King granted the town to the monastery in 1409. The same royal document awarded the monks an estate including the nearby settlement of St. Peter, and the villages of Błotnica, Wielki Radomierz and Sączkowo. Cistercians relocated to their new seat in 1418.

Their original church did not survive; it is assumed to have been a brick structure unlike the monastic quarters which for the following two centuries were located in wooden buildings. In the mid 1600s, the Cistercians initiated the construction of a new church, to the design of Tomasz Poncino; the works were interrupted by the Swedish invasion and resumed ca. 1680. The construction of the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist,

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BLEDZEW

Województwo Lubuskie

ROKITNO

KASZCZOR

WOLSZTYN

GRODZISK WLKP.

Województwo Zachodniopomorskie

LESZNO

TARNOWO

Województwo Pomorskie

OSTRÓW WLKP.

GNIEZNO

KONIN

Województwo Opolskie

KALISZ

Województwo Kujawsko-Pomorskie

the Prussians confiscated the land owned by the monastery in retaliation for the support provided by the monks to the Kościuszko Uprising in 1794. The monastery was gradually deserted and finally in 1835 was closed by the Prussians. Soon afterwards some of the monastery buildings were dismantled; the valuable library holdings were taken to Berlin while some books were acquired by private owners. The former Cistercian abbey was transformed into a parish church.

Today the only remains of the monastery, whose greater part was pulled down in the 1800s, include the single storey archway adjoining the church wall, and the adjacent sacristy, as well as a part of the southern wing.

Interior of the church in Kaszczor, photo: Z. Schmidt

Kaszczor

Church of St. John the Baptist ul. Opacka 9, 64-234 Przemęt tel. 65 549 61 03, www.przemet.pl To visit the church it is necessary to make an appointment one day earlier (the charge is a voluntary donation).

Cistercians were brought to Kaszczor in 1285 by Benjamin Zaremba, the Voivode of Poznań, who relocated them from Paradyż.

They received an estate consisting of 8 nearby villages, including fields, meadows, forests, rivers and lakes, and presently they expanded their property.

The first church and monastery are believed to have been built of wood in the 13th century. Unfortunately, we do not know in which part of the village, at the time called Ptowe, the buildings were situated. It is also unclear why soon afterwards, in the early 14th century the monastery was relocated to Wieleń Zaobrzański, and then in the early 15th century to Przemęt.

Yet, Kaszczor continued to be owned by the Cistercians. In the late 16th and early 17th century a wooden church was built here, which, following the efforts of Abbot Jan Józef Szołdrski, during 1764-75 was replaced with the Baroque church of St. Adalbert. Its building comprises a single nave, a tower and a chancel enclosed within three-fold outer wall.

The main altar holds a 17th century crucifix, and in its upper tier - a figure of St. Adalbert.

On its sides we can see statues of St. Joseph and John the Baptist. The preserved artefacts include some Baroque and Rococo liturgical ves-

Church in Kaszczor, photo: Z. Schmidt

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Church in Wieleń Zaobrzański, photo: Z. Schmidt

Interior of the church in Wieleń Zaobrzański, photo: Z. Schmidt

sels (e.g. monstrance, chalices, and an incense boat) as well as a chasuble from ca. 1700.

the other hand. The figure graces the main altar and is unveiled during services.

Cistercians were brought to the Przemęt region in the late 1200s by Benjamin Zaremba, the Voivode of Poznań. Initially they settled in Kaszczor nearby, but in the early 14th century, due to unknown reasons, they moved to Wieleń Zaobrzański where they stayed for about one hundred years. In 1408 they relocated to Przemęt. The Cistercian monastery existed in the latter location until 1835, when it was dissolved by the Prussians.

During the century which they spent here, Cistercians developed and strengthened the cult of Our Lady of Wieleń, which has survived to the present. The main, 8-day church fair, starting on the last Sunday of June and ending on the first Sunday of July (with major celebrations on 2 July) each year attracts thousands of pilgrims.

The first churches here were built of wood. The present church, devoted to the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was built during 1731-42 by the Cistercians from Przemęt.

This late Baroque church built of unrendered brick has a layout of the Latin cross. Its furnishings date mainly from the 17th and 18th century. And although pilgrims come here mainly for the “miraculous” figure of Mary, they also often visit the side chapel with an 18th century

Church of St. Adalbert Kaszczor, ul. Cysterska 4, 64-234 Przemęt tel. 65 549 90 89

Wieleń Zaobrzański

The history of Wieleń Zaobrzański (on the southern edge of the valley of Przemęckie Lakes) also includes a Cistercian episode, yet the origins of the local cult of Our Lady of Wieleń, Refuge of Sinners date back to earlier times.

According to a folk tale the Holy Mother of Wieleń appeared on a lime tree trunk to a certain pious goose herder. The site became greatly venerated, and the lime wood was used for sculpting a figure, which initially was placed near the lake on the site of the apparition. The legend has it that the Virgin Mary expressed a wish that a church be erected on the site, as well.

Certainly the statue, which is famous for its miraculous powers and can be seen there now, is not that original figure. Made in lime wood as well, the Gothic sculpture dates from the 1400s. It depicts Mary, supporting the Child with one arm, and holding an apple in

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crucifix. It is said that if a person who is in pain holds it with both hands, and then touches the crucifix with the afflicted body parts, their pain will be relieved.

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Wieleń, Refuge of Sinners Wieleń Zaobrzański Contact through the Parish of St. Adalbert, which administers the sanctuary Kaszczor ul. Cysterska 4, 64 - 234 Przemęt tel. 65 549 90 89 www.sanktuariumwielen.pl

Church in Obra, photo: Z. Schmidt

Obra

the late Baroque polychrome (dating from 1753 – 54) ornamenting the ceiling of the church and depicting events from the history of the Cistercian order, scenes from the life of St. Bernard, the Virgin Mary, God the Father, Christ the Judge, and the Holy Trinity surrounded by Cistercian saints.

The main altar from 1775 holds a painting of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Szymon Czechowicz from Poznań.

On both sides, between the columns we can see statues of St. Benedict and St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and over the altar there is a sculpture of St. James, the patron saint of the church.

Other highlights of the interior include: the gilded Rococo-style choir stalls (steps leading to the stalls are in the shape of dragons symbolizing Satan); the altar of the Virgin Mary, Tota pulchra (All Beautiful) in the nave to the right of the main altar; the side altar devoted to St. Eugene De Mazenod, the founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; the side altar of Our Lady of Consolation holding numerous votive offerings; as well as the fine Rococo pulpit in the shape of a chalice decorated with statues of the Church Fathers (St. Ambrose, Gregory the Great, Augustine and Leo the Great).

In Obra you can also visit the church vaults which hold coffins with the ashes of Cis-

The Cistercian monastery in Obra was founded in 1231 by Sędziwój Jeleńczyk, the Cantor of Gniezno, who designated a part of his estate for this purpose. In 1238, during a ceremonial gathering Sędziwój confirmed his founding act of 1231; the document related to this event allows for the conclusion that a church and monastic quarters had been built by that time and monks were living there, although the assumed official date of their arrival is 1240.

The monks came here from Łekno near Wągrowiec, and were endowed with nearby villages. Their activities included land improvement, farming, bee-keeping, milling, fishing, fruit growing and education.

Their original buildings were made of wood. In the early 1600s the monks initiated the construction of a brick church and monastery, but these buildings were destroyed during the Swedish invasion.

The present church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. James was built in 172257, to the design by Giovanni Catenazzi. This single-nave church with two low towers in the façade is a real gem of late Baroque architecture. It contains Rococo and early Classicist furnishings and an interior with polychromes

by Stanisław Brzozowski. His paintings include

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War II – its lecturers were imprisoned, many of them were taken to concentration camps. During the war the monastery was home to a Nazi police school and then a hospital for patients with lung diseases.

The Oblates returned to Obra after WWII, and they still conduct the Higher Theological Seminary, which is currently affiliated with the Theology Faculty of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. During 1981-93 the old monastery was expanded to include a new seminary facility, which comprises a seminary chapel, an assembly hall, the Museum of the Mission, and the Treasury. Visitors to the Museum have an opportunity to see ethnographic collections from countries in which Polish Oblates have their missions together with the holdings of the Treasury include artefacts of religious art from the 15th to the 19th century such as liturgical items: monstrances, missals, vestments, chalices, as well as the 15th century sculptures of saints: Mary Magdalene, Dorothy, Valentine and John the Baptist.

Church in Gościkowo, photo: Z. Schmidt

tercian monks and lay patrons of the monastery.

On its southern side the church is adjoined by the monastery, whose construction was initiated in 1618 on the site the former wooden buildings. After 1920 it was expanded eastward. Today it is home to the Higher Theological Seminary of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The eastern wing retains the sacristy with Rococo furnishings. Its ceiling in the form of the sail vault is covered with a polychrome from 1758, which depicts Moses at Mount Sinai receiving the tablets with Ten Commandments.

The former chapter house today is used as a theatre hall, and the refectory is used as a dining room. The rooms in the western wing have been adapted for the needs of the Oblate priests, while the southern wing holds utility rooms.

The Cistercians remained in Obra until 1835 when the Prussian authorities dissolved monasteries in Wielkopolska. During 1852-54 the abbey was a residence for Jesuits, and then (from 1904 to 1924) for retired clergymen. In 1926 the post-Cistercian buildings were acquired by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate who transformed them into the Higher Theological Seminary. The development of the Seminary was interrupted by World

Monastery Higher Theological Seminary of the Missionary Oblates ul. Szkolna 12, 64-211 Obra, tel. 68 384 20 47 www.obra.oblaci.pl Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. James the Apostle ul. Szkolna 12, 64-211 Obra tel. 68 384 05 70, www.obraparafia.pl

Gościkowo - Paradyż

Even though in 13th century documents the village was called Gościchowo, the site designated for their monastery by Cistercians was named Saint Mary’s Paradise - Paradisus Sanctae Mariae. Following the foundation of the monastery the commonly used name was the Polonized term Paradyż, and in times of the partitions: Paradies. It was not until after World War II that the old name, now slightly changed into Gościkowo, was reinstated. Yet, the post-

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Cistercian complex is still called Paradyż, and the whole village, due to its unique history is often referred to as Gościkowo-Paradyż.

Cistercian monks were brought to Gościkowo from Lehnin in Brandenburg in 1236 by Mikołaj Bronisz, the Voivode of Poznań. The abbey rapidly expanded, owing to numerous privileges bestowed on it by consecutive princes. In the latter half of the 13th century the Paradyż estate comprised an area of nearly 17,000 hectares. In 1337 King Władysław Łokietek extended his guardianship over the monastery, and the consecutive rulers kept up the patronage, which allowed the monks to safely expand their property.

Practically from its beginning the monastery in Paradyż had a library and a scriptorium. It also happened that the local monks were accused of falsifying documents and seals.

In the 1400s the position of abbot in the Paradyż monastery was held by two renowned European scholars: Jan from Paradyż, an au-

thor of a German-Latin dictionary, and Jakub from Paradyż – professor of theology and philosophy at the Kraków Academy, a rector of the university in Erfurt; he also represented Poland at the Council of Basel (1431-38). As a result of his efforts Pope Boniface IX issued a recommendation that all Polish Cistercians should study at the Kraków Academy.

Cistercians remained in Paradyż until the early 19th century, even though the Prussian authorities had confiscated a part of their estate during 1796-1810. The monastery was finally closed in 1834. The monastery estate was auctioned off, and some of its possessions were taken to Prussia. Shortly afterwards a Catholic Teacher Training College was established in the former premises of the monastery.

Today the monastery is home to the Zielonogórsko-Gorzowskie Higher Theological Seminary. There is also a museum with a collection of artefacts left behind by the Cistercians, including the most noteworthy: antique prints, Baroque monstrances, liturgical vessels and vestments.

The construction of the monastery was completed in the 1200s. In the following centuries it was rebuilt several times, and owes its final appearance to the works conducted by Karl Martin Frantz. In the refectory we can still admire the original Baroque frescoes depicting the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The post-Cistercian church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Martin is a three-nave basilica with a rectangular floor plan; it features a passageway surrounding the chancel, circular chapels in the corners of the church and 57 metre tall towers.

Its interior furnishings mainly date from the time of the Baroque alterations and the subsequent Classicist period.

The most impressive sight here is the high altar from 1739, founded by Abbot Jan Kazimierz Szczuka, a former secretary to King Jan Kazimierz. Its central part holds a representation of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Felix Anton Scheffler, a German 18th

Church in Gościkowo, photo: Z. Schmidt

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Bledzew

century artist. Both sides of the painting are graced by figures of saints. The upper tier of the altar features another work by F.A. Scheffler depicting the Apotheosis of St. Martin.

One of the most impressive paintings here depicts the foundation of Paradyż; in its lower part we can see Mikołaj Bronisz commanding the Polish army of Prince Henryk Pobożny at the battle of Legnica in 1241, and in its upper part: the founder of the monastery and his brother Dionizy are handing the founding act to Abbot Henry from Lehnin.

The chapel devoted to Our Lady of Paradyż holds a greatly venerated image of the Virgin Mary and the Child, attracting numerous pilgrims. This is a copy of a Byzantine icon painted in 1650 in Bologna.

The church interior was renovated in 2005-2008, with the support of EU funds.

On this occasion the original, 18th century colour patterns were restored, and at the same time a number of fascinating discoveries were made. These include fragments of Gothic and Renaissance polychromes in the side naves of the church, as well as decorations painted in the Mannerist and Baroque styles.

Although Cistercians resided in Bledzew from the 15th to the early 19th century, today their traces can only be found in the parish church of St. Catherine and in the Sanctuary of Our Lady in Rokitno. There are hardly any remains of the Cistercian church and monastery in Bledzew. Some sparse relics only have survived in the walls and foundations of the buildings erected on their site. In 1834 the Prussians dissolved the monastery, and auctioned off the church and the monastic buildings in 1843, requiring that the buyer dismantles them. The original view of the church and monastery was preserved in a drawing made by Kajetan Wincenty Kielisiński before the buildings were demolished.

The Cistercians relocated to Bledzew from the nearby village of Zemsko in the early 1400s. Today the reasons for their relocation are unknown. The process of moving the monastery was gradual and took several decades, therefore some monks did not settle in Bledzew until the second half of the 16th century when the whole community was finally transferred there.

It was then that the large monastic estate was expanded to include Stary Dworek, which in 1560 was granted by Abbot Piotr Kamiński to Abbot Piotr III for perpetual use.

From the late 16th century the newly acquired location became a seat of the abbots of Bledzew.

The building which can be seen there now was erected in 1705 by Abbot Józef Bernard Gurowski, and replaced the older structure destroyed by fire.

Before the dissolution of the monastery part of the library collection was saved.

Some books were transferred to Warsaw, some were taken by Tytus Działyński to Kórnik and

by Edward Raczyński to the library established by him in Poznań in 1829 (currently called the Raczyński Library).

After the monastery was closed a part of furnishings of the Cistercian abbey were relo-

Zielonogórsko-Gorzowskie Higher Theological Seminary Gościkowo 3, 66-200 Świebodzin tel. 68 381 10 21, 068 381 10 24 www.paradisus.pl Opening times: * week days during the academic year (from 25 Sept. to 25 June): daily: 9:00 -12:00 and 13:00 - 17:00 (except Tuesdays) Sundays and holidays: 9:00 - 10:30; 13:00 -15:30 * summer (from 25 June to 25 Sept.): daily: 9:00 -12:00, 13:00 -18:00, 19:00 - 20:00.

It is possible to visit the church, museum and gardens, but only with a guide – a novice monk.

Admission is free of charge but you are welcome to make donations for the monastery maintenance and renovation – these can be made at the gate.

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cated to the church of St. Catherine in Bledzew; these included the 17th century wooden altarpiece, patrons’ pews, sculptures and paintings, as well as numerous liturgical vessels (e.g. Baroque monstrance, a silver incense boat, and a silver gilded processional crucifix).

Parish of St. Catherine ul. Kościuszki 30, 66-350 Bledzew tel. 95 743 60 32

Rokitno

In 1661 Rokitno became a branch location of the Cistercian monastery in Bledzew following a decision of Abbot Kazimierz Jan Opaliński. Initially seven monks settled here, and in order to maintain the monastery their community was granted by Abbot Opaliński the villages of Rokitno and Chełmsko. In the following decades the monastery estate expanded as a result of subsequent endowments.

Rokitno owes its fame to the image of the Virgin Mary, known for its miraculous powers, which in 1669 was relocated to the local wooden church from Bledzew. The work of an unknown artist presumably representing the Dutch School, it was painted in the first half of the 16th century on a lime wood board.

The slightly inclined head and exposed ear of Mary give an impression that she is listening to the prayers of the faithful. For this reason the image is called Mother of God, the Patient Listener, and the local Marian sanctuary has also adopted this name. Today Our Lady of Rokitno is the patron saint of the Zielonogórsko-Gorzowska diocese.

The Rokitno monks started building a new brick church in the 1740s on the lowest of the hills along the road to Międzyrzecz.

The material used for its construction included the brick obtained by dismantling the church which they unsuccessfully tried to build on the highest of the hills. The late Baroque church, completed in 1756, and designed by Karl Martin Frantz, comprises three naves and a chan-

Interior of the church in Rokitno, photo: Z. Schmidt

cel enclosed within three-fold outer wall. Two square towers in its main façade are crowned with classicist spires.

The church interior and furnishings represent Baroque and Rococo styles. In the central part of the wooden altar, between two columns we can see the image of Our Lady of Rokitno.

Cistercians administered the church in Rokitno until 1820, when the Prussian ��� Ministry of Religious Affairs revoked their right of custody over the place. In 1835 the monastery in Bledzew was dissolved, the church was auctioned off in 1842 and later dismantled.

Fortunately, some furnishings from the church in Bledzew were removed to Rokitno.

Cistercians in Rokitno never managed to build a brick monastery. Out of the six Camaldolese-style cottages, which stood here in the 18th century, only two have been preserved.

Sanctuary of the Mother of God, the Patient Listener Rokitno 37, 66-341 Rokitno, 66-340 Przytoczna tel. 95 749 30 43 www.rokitno.org

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Cistercian festivals in Ląd nad Wartą, photo: Z. Schmidt

Cistercian Events Gościkowo-Paradyż - The festival called “Music in Paradise” (August). Organized since 2003, it emerged from a long time tradition of concerts in the series entitled “Early Music - persona grata”. The festival of early music in the post-Cistercian premises in Paradyż from the beginning has been hosted by the Arte dei Suonatori Orchestra. More information at: www.muzykawraju.pl Łekno - Cistercian Fair (July). Organized since 1995, the event aims at popularizing the history of Cistercians in the Łekno and Wągrowiec area. It starts with a Mass held in the parish church and celebrated by Cistercians invited for this occasion. The event includes concerts, shows of knightly martial arts, boat trips on Łekno Lake, games as well as presentations of old crafts.

Owińska – Cistercian Picnic (late September/ early October), organized since 2007. Its programme includes: Cistercian bicycle tours, presentations of historical dances and medieval martial arts, concerts played on early musical instruments, as well as guided tours of the postCistercian church.

Ląd – Festival of Slavic and Cistercian Culture has been held each June since 2005. The twoday weekend event is devoted to the history of the fortified settlement and the monastery in Ląd on the Warta river. Each year the event has a different theme, yet the programme always includes shows of knightly martial arts and old crafts, historical reenactments, concerts of early music, lectures in popular science, and exhibitions.

Wągrowiec - the Cistercian Festival has been organized every July since 1998. Held from Friday to Sunday this impressive event includes parades, presentations of old crafts, lectures devoted to the Cistercians and the history of the Wągrowiec area, concerts of early music; it is also possible to visit the post-Cistercian church and monastery.

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Accommodation

Cisterian Route, photo: Z. Schmidt

OWIŃSKA - WĄGROWIEC - TARNOWO PAŁUCKIE – ŁEKNO Tourist Information Office of the Village Authorities ul. Bydgoska 14, 62-005 Owińska tel. 509 750 709 Open: Mondays: 7:00 - 15:00 Tuesdays: 7:00 – 11:00 Saturdays and Sundays: 10:00 – 14:00 Hotel - Restaurant JAŚMIN ul. Dworcowa 19, 62-005 Owińska tel. 61 892 90 37 www.hotel-jasmin.pl Villa Park Guest House ul. gen. S. Taczaka, 62-028 Koziegłowy tel. 61 812 81 60; 692 433 983, 512 150 524 www.villaparkpensjonat.pl Guest Rooms - Paweł Lisowski ul. Gdyńska 90, 62-004 Czerwonak tel. 601 87 63 53, biuro@lisowski.net.pl Pietrak Hotel ul. Kościuszki 47, 62-100 Wągrowiec tel. 67 268 58 25, www.pietrak.pl Jamajka Hotel ul. Kcyńska 129, 62 – 100 Wągrowiec tel. 67 268 58 60, www.hoteljamajka.pl Hotel of the Sport and Recreation Centre ul. Kościuszki 59, 62 – 100 Wągrowiec tel. 67 268 53 37, www.osir.wagrowiec.eu Wielspin – Rehabilitation and Leisure Centre ul. Jeziorna 16, 62 – 100 Wągrowiec tel. 67 262 09 00, www.wielspin.pl

Interior of the church in Ląd n. Wartą, photo: Z. Schmidt

Higher Theological Seminary of the Salesian Order in Ląd Ląd 101, 62 - 406 Lądek tel. 63 276 33 23, www.lad.pl Centre for Natural Sciences Ląd 39, 62-406 Lądek tel. 63 276 33 07 PRZEMĘT – KASZCZOR – WIELEŃ – OBRA – PARADYŻ Palace in Popowo Stare Popowo Stare ul. Lipowa 26, 64-234 Przemęt tel./fax 65 549 85 75 tel. 503 922 151; 514 628 869 www.palac-popowo.pl Krokus Leisure Centre plac Pielgrzyma 9 Wieleń, 64-234 Przemęt tel. 65 549 90 21 Agritourist farm - Zagroda u Rzeźbiarza Patryk Murek Górsko 31, 64-234 Przemęt tel. 65 549 47 37, www.zagrodaurzezbiarza.pl Agritourist farm - Stara Stajnia ul. Wschowska 12 Wieleń Zaobrzański, 64-234 Przemęt tel. 603 845 447, www.starastajnia.pl Relaks Leisure Centre ul. Wczasowa 52, Wieleń, 64 – 234 Przemęt tel. 65 549 91 15, 601 354 332 www.owrelaks.pl Turów Leisure Centre ul. Wczasowa 54 Wieleń, 64-234 Przemęt tel. 65 549 93 38, 65 549 90 95, 503 939 481 www.owrturow.republika.pl

LĄD Palace in Ciążeń Adam Mickiewicz University – Centre for Creative Work ul. Wolności 33, 62-404 Ciążeń tel./fax 63 276 41 55 www.amu.edu.pl

Useful websites: www.szlakcysterski.org www.cystersi.pl www.cystersi.wagrowiec.pl Cistercian event in Ląd n. Wartą, photo: Z. Schmidt

Church in Owińska, photo: Z. Schmidt

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Tourist Information Poznań 61-772 Poznań, Stary Rynek 59/60 tel. 61 852 61 56, 61 855 33 79 it@cim.poznan.pl

Leszno 64-100 Leszno, ul. Słowiańska 24 tel. 65 529 81 91, 65 529 81 92 infotur@leszno.pl

Entrance, ul.27 Grudnia 61-816 Poznań, ul. Ratajczaka 44 tel. 61 851 96 45, 61 856 04 54 centrum@cim.poznan.pl

Nowy Tomyśl 64-300 Nowy Tomyśl pl. Niepodległości 10 tel. 61 442 38 06 r.ratajczak@nowytomysl.pl

Poznań International Fair 60-734 Poznań, ul. Głogowska 14 tel. 61 869 20 84 centrum@cim.poznan.pl

We would like to express our gratitude to Professor Andrzej Wyrwa – Chairman of the Cistercian Route Coordinating Council in Poland for his assistance and advice.

Piła 64-920 Piła, al. Niepodległości 33/35 tel. 67 210 94 80 pit@powiat.pila.pl

Airport Poznań-Ławica 60-189 Poznań, ul. Bukowska 285 tel. 61 849 21 40 lawica@cim.poznan.pl

Puszczykowo 62-040 Puszczykowo, ul. Poznańska 1 tel. 61 633 62 83, 61 898 37 11 promocja@puszczykowo.pl

Poznań Railway Station 60-801 Poznań, ul. Dworcowa 1 tel. 61 866 06 67 info@globtourfb.poznan.pl

Śrem 63-100 Śrem, ul. Okulickiego 3 tel. 61 283 27 04 unia@srem.com.pl

Wolsztyn 64-200 Wolsztyn ul. Roberta Kocha 12a tel. 68 347 31 04 gci@wolsztyn.pl

Gniezno 62-200 Gniezno, ul. Rynek 14 tel. 61 428 41 00 info@szlakpiastowski.com.pl

Kalisz 62-800 Kalisz, ul. Zamkowa tel. 62 598 27 31 it@um.kalisz.pl

Publisher: Wielkopolska Tourist Organization ul. 27 Grudnia 17/19, 61-737 Poznań Written by: Anna Plenzler Translation: Timothy Downey Graphic design: Agencja Fotograficzna Studio-F, www.olszewskiphoto.pl Cover photos: Archive of the Town Office in Wągrowiec, Z. Schmidt

Konin 62-510 Konin, ul. Dworcowa 2 tel. 63 246 32 48 biuro@lotmarina.pl

ISBN: 978-83-61454-95-3 Poznań 2012 24

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