www.um.oswiecim.pl

Oswiecim Castle

Decision covers a medieval tower together with neighbouring complex of buildings dated on XV/XVI century and area of castle hill, and is an up-to-dating of a former decision act dated April 30, 1934 issued by District Cracow Office, reference No L.AK. 11-Bi-23-Kr/34. Oswiecim Castle is one of the top relicts of medieval defensive architecture, it maintain medieval tower dated on XIII/XIV century and is one of the earliest made in bricks buildings in Lesser Poland. Together with remaining buildings from XV XX centuries as well as with configuration of the total Castle Hill is a good example of connection of defence architecture with a town arrangement.
The ducal castle is located on a hill that had to be in paganish period a place of cult. The gothic made in bricks tower is dated on second half of XIII century; the southern part of the castle is dated on XVI century, the middle part is constructed in twenties of the last century. The castle was demolished by numerous fires and restored. It was a seat of castellans, later a capital of the Oswiecim duchy, a seat of royal subprefects and at least of regional and municipal authorities. Presently in its southern part there is a collection of historical and ethnographic exhibits of Oswiecim county.

Visits in Castle

Oswiecim as located on a crossing of main communication routs is a convenient place for rest and spending a night for many travellers, not only in commercial purposes. Since the times when duke of Oswiecim Jan IV paid homage to Polish king Kazimierz Jagiellonczyk and Oswiecim was covered with a royal care, the Castle was visited by many important persons, members of royal family, princes, dukes, and highest as well clerical as civil dignitaries.

On turn of January and February 1454 stoped in the Castle Elzbieta Rakuszanka (Elizabeth the Austrian), the future wife of Kazimierz Jagiellonczyk, called later "the Mother of Kings". A numerous retinue of Austrian, Bohemian and Moravian lords accompanied her.
In July 27-29, 1471 in his travel to Prague rested in the Castle Wladyslaw Jagiellonczyk, accompanied by his royal parents -Kazimierz and Elzbieta - and by three Polish bishops, seven Silesian princes as well as by seven thousands cavalry and two thousands infantry.
After a fire in 1503, being at the time under restoration castle visited:
In 1510 a Pope's messenger, so-called "Papal Legate" delegated to Poland in a special mission.
In April 11-12, 1518 rested in the Castle Bona Sforza d'Aragona, in her way to Cracow to meet the king Sigismund I and to be crowned. A retinue of spiritual and civil lords consisting of some hundreds persons accompanied her. Many dignitaries from this retinue because of lack of place in the Castle had to be located in the town and close places.
At the end of April 1543 wives of highest state dignitaries came from Cracow to the Castle to hail Elzbieta Habsburzanka (Elizabeth of Habsburg), the future first wife of king Sigismund August.
At the night of June 18/19, 1574 passed through Oswiecim the king Henryk Walezy, excepting from Poland to France, to succeed the empty at the time French throne. He probably spent a night in the Castle.

Rome - Catholic Cemetery of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary parish in Oswiecim

Rome - catholic cemetery in Oswiecim of total area of some 2.7 ha, was established in the first half of XIX century. There are here 210 relict tombstones of special care, created in second half of XIX and the first half of XX centuries. Existing there on the lot mature forest is protected too. The oldest and mostly essential relicts of the Cemetery are listed below there:

Made of bricks chapel of new-gothic features, erected in the second half of XIX century, with epitaphs on outside walls and one inside.
Made in bricks fence constructed in first half of XX century.
Relict of priest of Oswiecim parish, of Salesian Fathers, of Seraphic Sisters and of burgesses: mayors, counsellors of the Town, physicians, teachers, and artists. The oldest existing tombstone is set in 1842; there are numerous ones from the second half of XIX and first half of XX centuries.
Commemorative plaques denouncing inter alias names of the persons that have been killed in extermination camps during the Second Word War.
A vault set up in 1980 on the place of the former soldier quarter from 1914-1918 years war.
Symbolic monument erected in 1985 for memory of soldiers killed during the First and Second World Wars.
Soldiers common tombs with obelisks memorising those, who were killed
- In a Prussian - Austria battle in June 1866,
- Eleven Polish Army soldiers killed in defence of Oswiecim in September 1939,
- Memorial - tombstone on a common grave of Red Army soldiers, killed January 1945 in liberation battle of Oswiecim.

Town Planning System of Oswiecim from XIV / XV century

Town planning system is developed on a checkers basis, with a market place and medieval system of streets, surrounded with building blocks. Streets are closed in an oval form with former embankments. Streets are irregularly dense at its exits to the old town and with specific secessionist tenement houses from XVIII century and reconstructed in XIX century. The main dominants of old town building: a castle, a church, a monastery and an old town hall building dated on XIX century. On the market square there are some plaques for Oswiecim peoples of merit for Polish culture in Renaissance period: Jan of Oswiecim, the Younger, (Sacranus the Younger) [1444-1527], Andrzej Patrycy Nidecki [1522-1587], Lukasz Gornicki [1527-1603] and Szymon Syrenski [1540-1611]. In 2001 there were wall in two further plaques: for memory of Poles, inhabitants of Oswiecim county, who during German occupation in 1940-1945 years in spite of a terror, exposed to death their lives helping the prisoners of the biggest extermination camp, the KL Auschwitz; and the second plaque is sacrificed to memory of Jews, the citizen of Oswiecim, cruelly murdered by nazi occupant during the second World War.

Convent complex of Seraphic Sisters in Oswiecim

The first building of the Convent was erected in 1893-1895 years. At the beginning it was a freestanding building, with neo-classic style elements, currently it is connected with a single floor lacing to a church. The new convent building, constructed in fifties of XX century is strictly related to neo-classic style of the old one. Even more in foundation of the convent there is a modernistic - secession in style building of "Caritas", constructed in 1905-1910 years as well as two nursery buildings from thirties of last century. On western and eastern sides of convent's area there is a garden and an orchard. On Oswiecim relict cemetery there in a very carefully maintained quarter of Seraphic Sisters is a tomb, where with military honours was buried in 1933 one of the sisters of this convent, Leopoldyna Stawecka. There is on a tombstone visible a Cross of Valor, the nun and the former legionary was decorated with it. Leopoldyna Stawecka was born in October 11, 1896 in Bochnia. As an 18 years young lady she voluntary entered the Polish Legions, where she served as a nurse. She participated in fights of Lwow; she struggled in a military troop where her brother was an officer. She was a member of Women's Legion. In fights of Wilno (Vilnius) she was wounded in her right lung. She served military during a plebiscite in Upper Silesia. She has shown significant arrangement abilities, responsibility and bravery. For military services she was decorated with Lwow Defence Cross and Cross of Valor and was promoted to a rank of first lieutenant. To the Convent of Seraphic Sisters in Oswiecim Leopoldyna Stawecka entered in October 15, 1924 and accepted her conventual name "Eligia". She died in January 7, 1933.

Church and Chapel Complex of Salesian Fathers in Oswiecim

Currently an Our Lady of Faithful Assistance church or former monasteric of St. Cross church of Black Friar Fathers in Oswiecim was founded in the first half of XIV century. In XVI century fires, in1519 and 1564, twice demolished it. Probably for some time it was in use of dissenters. At the beginning of XVII century was by the Black Friars partially restored. In February 1556 Swedish army burnt the town and damaged the Oswiecim castle, once more seriously was devastated with a fire as well the church as monastery of Oswiecim Black Friar Fathers. In January 12, 1782 under an emperor's Joseph II decree all monastery were ceased, including of course Oswiecim Black Friars too; deserted objects would be sold. Left without any care building became ruined. Father Andrzej Knycz gave bought premises for establishment of educational institution. In 1898 came to Oswiecim from Turin the first Salesians - the Poles, which started with reconstruction of the church, and the church changed its previous title from St. Cross into Our Lady of Faithful Assistance. In 1901 1902 there was erected a Jan Bosko educational institution. In 1906 construction works were broken. The works were led inside the church. There were set eight altars under galleries; Italian professor Mingheti did them. During the interwar period, in 1921 it was constructed in the church an organ loft, and July 1,1923 were inaugurated church bells, lately taken out in 1842 by a German occupant. In 1953 the church was generally overhauled and in 1953 there was installed 37-voices organ. This organ was generally overhauled in 1971-1976 years. In 1962-1964 there was set a new main altar, in which was located an earlier picture of the Assistant Lady. In next years the church got a marble floor instead of a former timber one, made in oak banks and magnificent stained glass windows. In 1975-1984 there was annexed to westward a new, the third part of the temple and in this way an architectonic form of the church finely was formatted.

St. Jacek Chapel

Currently a freestanding St. Jacek Odrowaz chapel is a remainder of late Black Friar Fathers monastery building. It is a former gothic capitulary (place of meetings and priers) from XIV century, changed in 1594 into the St. Jacek chapel (a patron of Black Friars) on an occasion of his canonisation. The object is made in bricks, on rectangular floor projection. The chapel is orientated, double severy bay, cross-vaulted with ribs; stone ribs of simple profile, circular keystones and pyramidal brackets. From outside the chapel is surrounded with counterforts, and to its interior from the beginning of XX century there is access through a vestibule (a ground floor annexe) with a made in stone portal, over the portal there was a rosette. After cassation of the monastery of Black Friars (under the emperor's Joseph II decree dated January 12, 1782) the chapel together with the remaining objects as the monastery and church started to fall down into ruins. In years 1819-1872 the chapel was a property of Rusockis family, later of a Jewish merchant Landau. It was not before, as from initiative of a local parish priest monsignor Andrzej Knycz the chapel was in 1894 in three hundredth anniversary of St. Jacek's canonisation, success in buying back from Jewish hands the chapel. Then the chapel was with an excellent fidelity renewed under supervision of professor Slawomir Odrzywolski, an architect and relict maintenance specialist from Cracow and the chapel. During the restoration the chapel was covered with a new closed saddle roof with recesses. At the time the chapel got a beautiful stained glass window imaging St. Jacek. The chapel was in August 19, 1894 solemnly inaugurated. In tern of XIX and XX century renewed chapel was once more slightly rebuilt, this time from initiative of Salesian Fathers. Inside the chapel there is the only token from Swedish war period. It is a early baroque plaque made in black marble, founded by Agnieszka of Biberstein to her husband Mikolaj of Mstow Mstowski, who was killed in August 18, 1656 "in defence of faith and home" in a fight against Swedes. In a crypt under a floor of the chapel there, properly secured bones of Oswiecim dukes, Catalans and benefactors of the monastery, all brought here from crypt of former St. Cross church of Black Friar Fathers, during its overhaul in turn of XIX and XX century.

Slebarskis' House

Made in bricks building - currently a seat of regional court. Located at Main Market No 14 an ample house was erected at a beginning of XIX century by father Michal Slebarski. One stage building is constructed on a letter "L" projection; it has 15 axes in front elevation and a balcony supported with two columns. The building is roofed with a high roof made in ceramic tiles.

Tenant building

A bourgeois building with a habitable outhouse. The building is located at Main Market No 8 in Oswiecim. It is erected together with an outhouse about 1830. It is roofed with a gable roof covered with ceramic tiles; the outhouse is roofed with a pent roof. Elevation of the building is symmetrical; windows are decorated with framing and cornices. An enter gate decorated with pilasters with Ionic capitals. The tenant building together with its outhouse is included into a straight zone of relict protection of the old town planning system.

Railway siding and ramp

On premise of West Goods Station in Oswiecim The railway siding as well as unloading ramp were an element of existing there in 1942-1945 Nazi Extermination Camp Auschwitz II - Birkenau. Here up to may 1944 were stopped trains with deported to the Camp prisoners. Here on the ramp, the prisoners, mainly Jews, were selected. From May 1944 railway transports of prisoners were unloaded on a special ramp located in KL Birkenau. To this ramp led a special railway siding from the old one, running through a "Gate of Death". Areas and objects of the former KL Auschwitz - Birkenau are recorded on the UNESCO's List of World Heritage.

Chapel - Mausoleum

The chapel was erected at the end of XVIII century. Together with a garden set up simultaneously and landscape park from the beginning of XIX century they are a part of park and palace complex in Dwory nearby Oswiecim (currently Zwyciestwa Street). The chapel is related to the death of Barbara of Hallers Rotman (1805). It is a circular object made in bricks, erected on a central projection roofed with a concha, outside walls of the chapel are split with eight Ionic pilasters supporting an entablature supporting further a roof copula. The roof is made in metal sheets. Entrance to the chapel is closed with a classic iron grid.
Through the whole years there was in an altar a sculpture of St. Barbara (the patroness of Barbara Rotman), now there is there amore light sculptu8re of Bless Virgin Mary, but the sculpture of St. Barbara is standing nearby the altar. There are in the chapel four timber candlesticks as well in classicist style. At the entrance door there is in a stone floor a movable slab, covering an entrance to a crypt where there are coffins hiding powders of Hallers family. The last buried here member of Hallers family is Cezary Antoni Haller (July 8, 1972) a son of major Cezary Haller.
On walls of the chapel, on both sides of the altar, there are fixed two plaques. One of them is sacrificed to Cezary Haller de Hallenburg - the captain of Polish Army; from November 6, 1918 he was a regional commander of Oswiecim county, during a Czech invasion over the Cieszyn Silesia in January 1919 he participated in numerous battles. He was killed in a battle under Konczyce Male in January 26, 1919. For numerous merits in defence of southern boundaries of the country was after his death advanced to the rank of major of Polish Army.

Cemetery of Moses Religion

A time of establishment of a cemetery of Moses religion in Oswiecim is not known. It could be considered the cemetery in the present place was established as early as first years of XIX century or even in tern of XVIII and XIX centuries. The cemetery in his today place is located on a quadrilateral projection. There are tombs of died members of Jews population of Oswiecim and nearby located settlements. It was devastated during German occupation. Germans intended a part of its area for extension of contemporary "Krakauerstrasse" (former Zatorska Street, at present J. Dabrowskiego Street). Among partially demolished memorials there is one worthy the special attention, there is on it a Hebrew inscription, below are a David's star, and then a Polish inscription. As the left part of the memorial is demolished, the words of this part are scratched. Can only be read:

.......SPOCZYWA (IZY)OR HIRSH....(LEGI)ONISTA POLSKI....23.VII....
(English rough translation: HERE REST IZYDOR HIRSH ... THE POLISH LEGIONARY... 23.VII...)

Cemetery is located at J. Dabrowski Street, from 1940 is closed, and currently is hardly accessible.

Premises of Former Extermination Camp
KL Auschwitz - Birkenau in Oswiecim and in Brzezinka

The former Extermination Camp Auschwitz - Birkenau is a one of the greatest nazi extermination camps. During its active being in 1940 1944 has swallowed up more then a million victims of many nationalities. It consisted of main camps: Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II - Birkenau, Auschwitz III - Monowitz and over forty sub- camps. On premises of the former camps there are many objects being evidences of nazi homicide. They are: a gas chamber and crematory I, ruins of gas chambers and crematories II, III, IV and V, a Wall of Executions, a selection ramp, mass graves, barracks made in timber and in bricks, prisoner blocks, barbed wire fences and watchman towers.
The KL Auschwitz - Birkenau is a symbol of extermination of human beings during the period of German occupation.
Under a resolution of Polish Parliament dated July 2, 1947 on areas of two remained camps there was established the State Museum Auschwitz - Birkenau. In 1979 these places were recorded in UNESCO's List of Objects of World Heritage.

Habitable buildings

At Dabrowski Street No 2 and 4 in Oswiecim The buildings were erected in the second half of XIX century; they were a part of former Factory of Fine Vodkas and Liqueurs belonging to Jakub Haberfeld and served as habitable and administrative ones. They had a rich inner architectonic and artistic decoration in eclectic style, in elevation and in details of terraces, roofings and loggias in a form of cast and forged iron elements. Inside there are partially saved in rooms of first floor artificial marbles and two ovens made in tiles from the époque. In staircases there are decorated handrails made in timber and baluster. Industrial part of building, essentially reconstructed has kept its primary special system and is together with habitable part an example of complex habitable and industrial architecture. Currently the buildings are in very poor condition.

Building of Former Synagogue.

At the canon Jan Skarbek square (the former Church Square) in 1928-1930 years was erected a rectangular in projection, made in bricks, single floor building intended for a synagogue of Lomdei Misznajot religious society. Currently it is the only saved synagogue in Oswiecim county. (The main synagogue, located at Berek Joselewicz Street was burnt by Germans in September 1939, and demolished in 1941. In 1941 there was demolished a synagogue at Glebka Street too.)
The two marble plaques remained on walls of the synagogue with Hebrew inscriptions (votive 1907 and foundation 1928). This small synagogue (in 30 % destroyed) was in the time of war used as a military storage; directly after liberation it was turn back to its primary function, it is the synagogue. As late as in 1945-1947, when the some scores of survived Jews left the Oswiecim, the synagogue became a property of municipal community. In 1997 this small Oswiecim synagogue became the first object turn back to Jewish society under the law on restitution of Jewish property. Starting from November 8, 1999 the synagogue building was renewed; renovation was led under the name of Jewish Educational Centre Foundation in Oswiecim. In September 12, 2000 the synagogue was solemnly opened for cult and educational needs. In next to synagogue building was opened an Educational Centre. There will be carried out the further operations directed to restore the Skarbek square to its look from 1939 year.

Assumption of Bless Virgin Mary Parish Church

The church was mentioned as
There are in the church: a main altar - late baroque; a font from 1613; baroque paintings; an epitaph of father Hironim Russocki from 1618 and other epitaphs from XIX century; a portal over an entrance from presbytery to sacristy with the date 1529 above it. There is in a south wall another portal, but late gothic.
In a porch under a tower there are epitaphs from XIX century, inter alias of a sculptor Leon Szubert and his father as well as memory plaques: of the Polish Legionaries; of the pilgrimage of the Pope John Paul II to Auschwitz - Birkenau Camp (June 17, 1979); of the first anniversary of the father 's Maximilian Maria Kolbe beatification (October 12 1972). On an outer wall of presbytery (at Dabrowski Street) there is a crucifix from XVIII century.

Other objects in Oswiecim, bearing attributes of relicts
(but not registered as yet)

Marriage Palace

Villa erected in 1903-1912 years, (Jagiello street 25) has historical features in its style, elements of neo-renaissance and neo-baroque are prevailing. (Up to 1935 it was a property of Antoni Slusarczyk, MD.)

Building Of Former Tavern

Building erected in turn of XVIII /XIX centuries or in the first half of XIX century at Gornicki Street, many times rebuilt.

Railway siding along Leszczynska Street

Tenant Building, Main Market No 12

Building erected at the end of XIX century, reconstructed in forties of the last century in "Heimatstil".

Tenant Building, Main Market No 9

Building erected eighties of XIX century, has historical features in its style, on break there is a stuccowork.

"Caritas's" Building

(Tadeusz Kosciuszko Square No 10) Currently it is a House of Social Aid. Building erected in 1905-1910 years; secession and modernistic style features.

Town Hall Building, Main Market No 2

The building of the old Town Hall, erected in 1872-1975 years, under supervision of an architect Leopold Michel. It has historical features in its style; elements of neo-gothic are prevailing. It is one floor building, made in bricks, plastered, with a cellar, covered with a metal sheet flat roof. In a period from 1875 up to 1939 it was a seat of municipal Authorities. In 1876 there was installed on the Town Hall tower a watch, this is every day playing a bugle call of Oswiecim. The bugle call consist of four first times of Alexander Orlowski's (an Oswiecim citizen at the time) polonaise. On the top of the Hall tower there is flying an Oswiecim's flag.
From half of eighties of the last century their seat have Society of Lavers of Oswiecim County. On a front wall of the building there are numerous memorial plaques. More important are two white marble ones. One of them is sacrificed to memory of Lukasz Gornicki; the second of them is sacrificed to the voluntaries from Oswiecim and its county going to Polish Legions.
Today only the shy-blue blazon flag of Oswiecim flying over the tower makes the Oswiecim population remember that it is not a simple building but the old "new Town Hall".

Tenant Building, Main Market No 11

Building erected at the end of XIX century, reconstructed in forties of the last century in "Heimatstil". In turn of XIX/XX centuries there was there a "Hotel Herz".

"Piasts" bridge

The bridge was constructed in 1912-1924 years in accordance to engineering design of Adam Machniewicz. Partially demolished in September 1939, reconstructed in early forties. From Mart 1989 named as "Piasts" bridge.

Museums and other Important Objects

Historic and Ethnographic Collection in Oswiecim

Collection was established in 1993, it covers seven rooms in southern, XVI century part of Castle. Exhibits included in collection are connected not only within Oswiecim county. There are in collection exhibits as well ethnographic ones as historical tokens from different periods. Program Counsel of Historic and Ethnographic Collection supervises its activities.

State Museum Auschwitz - Birkenau in Oswiecim

The Museum was established in 1947 on premises of former Konzentrationslager Auschwitz - Birkenau. Museum consists of two integral parts: the former mother camp in Oswiecim (KL Auschwitz I - Stammlager) and the former camp in Brzezinka (KL Auschwitz II - Birkenau). Visitors have access to areas of the both camps within saved objects as well as expositions located in some blocks. Cares over the visitors ensure guides, transferring information on the camp in following languages: Polish, English, French, German, Russian, Hungarian and Italian.

Centre of Dialog and Prier (at M. Kolbe Street)

Activities of the Centre is directed to arrangement of meetings with distinguished representatives of different religions and cultures, to education of youth in the spirit of tolerance and respecting of human rights. Publishing and journalistic activities are run out.

International House of Youth Meeting

The House is located at Legionow Street No 12. An activity of the House is directed onto creation of agreements and integration of European Youth. This task is executed during many days lasting visits of youth groups, study, partner, seminar or workshop groups. International House of Youth Meeting is an educational institution, founded by the Action of Penance Signs in the Service of Peace and the town Oswiecim.
This House was created in 1986 basing on an idea that better recognition of history leads to the better future. The idea of creation on Oswiecim of IHYM was developed in 1970 in whole corporations of the German Action of Penance Signs in the Service of Peace after signing the Warsaw Act. It leader, the poet Volker von Törne, dreamed on a creation of the House, where the young people could meet the other young people from different countries and could together study as well the history and meaning of Auschwitz as to acquaintance each other. The House should be a place, where the history would be submitted to a critical study.
Central and continuously developed points of House's works are international programmes. These programmes include already existing Polish - German partnerships in scope of which there are possibilities to carry out in the House the programmes lasting a few days, as well as projects addressed to broad circulars of interested young people. As examples can be listed here: journalist, photographic or theatre workshops, exchanges of the youth or thematic seminars e.g. "Architecture and town planning in a National Socialism period" or "Medicine and Nursing in a National Socialism period and today". A few time a year there are carried out here instructional seminaries for teachers.

Published on: 2003-02-24 (12801 reads)

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