Bishops Palace
Kraków Monuments
A historic palace at Franciszkańska Street 3, the seat of the bishops of Kraków since the end of the 14th century and still the seat of the metropolitan curia today. It is the largest palace in Kraków after Wawel and one of the places associated with John Paul II. In the second quarter of the 17th century, under Bishop Piotr Gembicki, an early Baroque building was raised here on the plan of an irregular quadrilateral around a courtyard, with a portal facing Franciszkańska Street. From the Renaissance a columned loggia on the ground floor has survived, among other elements.
History
The Bishops' Palace at 3 Franciszkańska Street has been the seat of the bishops of Kraków since the end of the 14th century; before that they lived on Wawel Hill. It still houses the Metropolitan Curia and is considered the largest palace in Kraków after Wawel. A smaller building stood here earlier, which burned down in 1462. Under Cardinal Zbigniew Oleśnicki the palace was extended and surrounded by a wall. In the 16th century it was rebuilt twice: under Bishop Piotr Tomicki and, at the end of the century, under Piotr Myszkowski. A colonnaded loggia on the ground floor and one of the portals in the cloisters survive from that time.
In the second quarter of the 17th century, under Bishop Piotr Gembicki, an early Baroque building was created on an irregular four-sided plan around a courtyard. It has a wide south façade with belvederes at the corners, and the portal on the Franciszkańska Street side dates from this period.
The next change is linked to Bishop Jan Paweł Woronicz, who led the diocese from 1815 to 1829. He was a poet and a Romantic, and following the example of Princess Izabela Czartoryska's collections in Puławy, he set up a museum devoted to the history of the homeland in the palace. Its most important part was the Historical Cabinet, which held, among other things, some of the remains of Bolesław the Brave. In July 1850 the great fire of Kraków badly damaged the palace, although the relics of the first Polish king and paintings by Michał Stachowicz were saved. The rebuilding in 1865-1868 was led by Paweł Barański, and in 1881-1884 Tomasz Pryliński renovated the building in a Renaissance spirit and added an arcaded loggia in a corner of the courtyard.
The palace is also one of the most important places associated with John Paul II. Karol Wojtyła moved in here in 1964, a year after he was chosen as bishop, and lived here until he was elected pope in 1978. On all his pilgrimages to Poland he chose this palace as his place to rest, and he spoke to the crowds gathered on Franciszkańska Street from the window just above the Baroque entrance gate. The palace also hosted Benedict XVI, who stayed here on 26-28 May 2006.
Did you know?
The window above the entrance gate is known as the Papal Window. Today it is decorated with an image of John Paul II, and vigils and concerts are often held in front of the palace.