Page 163 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Krakow

FUR THER AFIELD  161

in 1320 and the convent fell
into ruin. The cult of the
Blessed Salomea developed
over time, and in 1677 Canon
Sebastian Piskorski transformed
Grodzisko into a sanctuary
devoted to this pious nun.
He designed a complex
hermitage consisting of the
small Church of the Blessed
Salomea and a number of
chapels enclosed within a wall.
There are several charming
Baroque touches, like the The beautiful maze garden in Pieskowa Skala Castle
elephant bearing an obelisk,
an idea borrowed from the of furniture, tapestries and built in the 15th century. The
Italian architect Bernini. decorative objects, as well as church was remodelled in
works of art, are on display. the early 17th century in the
R Church of the Blessed Baroque style, and magnificent
Salomea E Pieskowa Skała Castle stalls were added to the
Open 9–10am Sun. Tel 12 389 60 04. Open May–Sep: chancel. Large altars in black
9am–5pm Tue–Thu, 9am–1pm Fri, marble were made in the
10am–6pm Sat & Sun; Oct & Apr: 18th century.
0Pieskowa Skała 10am–4pm Fri, 9am–1pm Sat & Sun; In the 12th and 13th
Nov–Mar: pre-booked groups only. centuries, during the period
35 km (22 miles) northwest of & free Wed. 8 = -
Krakow. @ from Krakow’s Main ∑ pieskowaskala.eu when Poland was fragmented
Coach Station. into principal-ities, Tyniec was
transformed into a fortress
The Pieskowa Skała Castle and played an important role
was built by King Kazimierz qTyniec during the struggles for the
the Great in the 14th century 10 km (6 miles) west of Krakow. crown of the suzerain province
as part of the defence system @ 112. v 12, 18, 22, 52 to Rondo of Krakow. By the end of the
on the Krakow-Częstochowa Grunwaldzkie, then bus. 16th century the fortifications
Uplands. It became private were extended. A number of
property in 1377. The picturesque Benedictine gates linked through an angled
Between 1542 and 1544, Abbey at Tyniec is situated on a corridor were introduced as part
enlargement of the castle rocky escarpment by the Vistula, of a defence system modelled
was undertaken by Stanisław west of Wawel. The monks were on Wawel. Tyniec was a strategic
Szafraniec and his wife, Anna brought to Krakow in 1044, site and as a result often came
Dębińska. The commission was probably by King Kazimierz the under attack.
probably given to the Italian Restorer. A Romanesque basilica
architect Nicolo da Castiglione. was built here soon after. Only R Benedictine Abbey
The castle houses a museum parts of the walls and a few Tel 12 688 54 50. Open May–Oct:
of the history of Polish interiors architectural fragments of this 10am–6pm daily; Nov–Apr: 10am–
from medieval times to the basilica have survived. The new 4pm daily. & 8 ∑ tyniec.
19th century. Some pieces church and monastery were benedyktyni.pl

Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec on the Vistula