List of over one hundred of the largest and most significant historical buildings in Poland: castles and keeps (including royal residences), palaces and park complexes, urban complexes, church complexes, and other monuments worthy of attention. Detailed presentations of some of the monuments are already available on our website, discussions of the remaining ones are being prepared.
The list begins with the Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral complex (Krakow), the Royal Castle in Warsaw, and the complex of the Castle of the Teutonic Corder at Malbork.
KRAKÓW - WAWEL
Royal Castle and Cathedral complex
Royal Castle
Exterior: Façade of Gothic palace with Chicken Foot Tower (Kurza Stopka), courtyard - arcades
Interiors - below ground level: Rotunda of the Holiest Virgin Mary, crypt of St. Gereon's Church, czakram
Interiors - ground level: Casimir Room (Crown Treasury), interior of Chicken Foot Tower
Interiors - upper floors: Senate Room, Throne Room ("Under the Heads"), Zodiac Room, Royal Chambers, and Vasa Room
Cathedral
Exterior: Sigismund Chapel (with golden cupola), Vasa Chapel
Below-ground level: Crypt of St. Leonard
Interior: Gothic chancel, Shrine of St. Stanislaus, Royal Crypts, Sigismund Chapel (sculpted decorations), Holy Cross Chapel (frescoes), Potocki Chapel (Thorvaldsen)
Tower: Sigismund Bell
WARSAW - ROYAL CASTLE
Royal Castle complex
Exterior: Façade from Castle Square, façade of the Saxon Wing from the Vistula River, Kubicki's Arcade
Interiors - underground: Gothic cellar
Interiors - ground floor: "On Two Columns" Parliament Room, Stanislaus Library
Interiors - upper floors: Rooms of the Grand Apartment (esp. Ensemble Room, Knights' Room, Throne Room), Royal Apartment (Study, Chamber, Chapel), Parliament Room, Canaletto Room, room with the HOLD CAROW SZUJSKICH / HOMAGE OF THE SHUISKY TSARS by Jan Matejko, exhibition room in the Lanckoronski Gallery
MALBORK
Castle complex of the Teutonic Order, Grand Master's Palace, town
Exterior: Façade from the Nogat River, courtyards of the Upper and Middle Castles
Interiors of the Upper Castle (capitulary, refectory, chapel), interiors of the Grand Master's Palace (both refectories, vestibule, residential chambers), interiors of the Middle Castle (Great Refectory, kitchen)
Remaining monuments are grouped as follows:
Within each section, monuments are listed in alphabetical order according to their location.
URBAN COMPLEXES
Chełmno
Old Town: Parish Church of the Holiest Virgin Mary, Franciscan Church, Dominican Church, Cistercian nunnery (interior), fortified walls (incl. the Grudziadz Gate), town hall.
Gdańsk
Complex of the Main Town, Old Town, and Old Suburb. St. Mary's Church (interior), St. John's Church, St. Catherine's Church (interior), Dominican Church (Gothic and Baroque interior), Franciscan Church with St. Anne's Chapel and the szachulec - a building with a wood-frame and clay walls (interior of monastery), St. Bridget's Church (interior). Fortifications: the Gdansk Crane (interior with machinery), gates on the Motlawa River side, arsenal (interior), Green Gate, Golden Gate, and fore-gate complex. Public buildings: Main Town Hall (interior -Hall and Red Room), Artus Court (interior), the Great Mill. Townhouses, especially those on Long Street and along Long Market (interior of the Uphagen House).
Kazimierz nad Wisłą / Casimir on the Vistula
Town with castle and a number of granaries (central market with the Houses of the Przybyla Brothers, parish church - interior, Franciscan monastery).
Kraków
Wawel Hill. Old Town, districts of Okol and Kazimierz. The townhouses of Old Town (interior of the Hetmanski House), Sukiennice / Cloth Hall (interior, upper floors), defensive walls, Barbican, University – Collegium Maius (courtyard and interiors), numerous churches including St. Mary's Church (interior with St. Mary's Altar), St. Andrew's Church (of the Order of St. Clare), Franciscan Church (interior), Dominican Church (arcades, interior), University Church of St. Anne (interior), Holy Cross Church (interior), Jesuit Church (interior). Juliusz Slowacki Theatre (lobby interior and auditorium with curtain by Siemiradzki). Kazimierz (Casimir district): town hall, numerous churches including St. Catherine's Church (interior) along with the Augustinian Monastery, Corpus Christi Church (interior), Skalka / The Rock (interior, Crypt of the Meritorious), Missionaries' Church (interior), Old Synagogue (interior), Jewish Cemetery.
Lublin
Complex of the Royal Castle and Old Town within the old city walls (burghers' houses, fortifications composed of walls and gates), Cathedral - interior, Dominican Church - interior, Chapel of the Holy Trinity in castle - interior of upper floor with polychrome frescoes.
Łowicz
Town with two markets and their surrounding buildings, town hall, post office, and numerous churches. Interior of Cathedral (bishops' tombs) and Piarist Church.
Paczków
Walled town with town hall and parish church.
Poznań
Complex of Old Town Square with town hall (interior), buildings within the square and surrounding townhouses. The "Jesuit Axis" from Old Town Square with church (interior), religious college and Baroque-aged schools.
Pułtusk
Old Town Island. Castle, town hall, Collegiate Church (interior). Classicistic buildings.
Rydzyna
Urban complex with Baroque buildings and two churches; palace with park.
Sandomierz
City encircled by old defensive walls. Central square with townhouses and town hall, Cathedral (interior - architecture and altars - no paintings), the home of Dlugosz and others. Castle and two monastic complexes beyond the Opatow Gate (Order of the Benedictine nuns and Reformist monastery); also, monastic complex of the Dominican Order along with St. Jacob's Church.
Toruń
Old Town and New Town. Church of the SS Johns (interior), St. Jacob's Church (interior), Franciscan Church (interior). Fortifications: gates from the Vistula River, remains of the castle. Gothic townhouses (interiors of the house of Copernicus) and Baroque townhouses (House under the Star). Town hall.
Tykocin
Old Town Square with Missionary Church (interior), Monument to Stefan Czarniecki and burghers' houses. Jewish quarter with synagogue (interior).
Warszawa
Complex of Old Town and New Town with burghers' houses, fortified walls, churches and monasteries (interiors of the Cathedral, Dominican Church, and Church of the Order of the Holy Sacrament). Extends in the west to Krasinski Palace (interior of hall), in the north to the Citadel, in the south to the Bernardine complex. Royal Castle with the Tin-Roofed Palace. Krakowskie Przedmiescie with its palaces and churches (interiors of the Church of the Nuns of the Visitation, hall of the Tyszkiewicz Palace) with adjoining Theatre Square.
Zamość
Town with defensive fortifications (burghers' houses, town hall, palace, churches and temples – interiors of the Collegiate Church and synagogue, 16th and 19th century fortifications with gates).
CHURCH COMPLEXES
Częstochowa
Jasna Gora (Bright Hill): church complex (interior), Chapel of the Holiest Virgin Mary (interior) and monastery (interiors of the Great Refectory and Library) within the fortifications.
Frombork
Cathedral Hill. Cathedral - exterior and interiors, defensive walls, Copernicus Tower, Old Bishops' Palace.
Gdańsk-Oliwa
Cistercian Abbey complex: church (interiors - stalls and organ), monastery, abbots' palace with French garden and park.
Gniezno
Cathedral complex with collegiate curia: cathedral (interior with bronze door, tombs of bishops Olesnicki, Gruszczynski, Laski, Shrine of St. Adalbert, Baroque and other chapels).
Henryków
Cistercian Abbey complex with church (interior, esp. stalls), monastery (interior), garden with pavilions and utilitarian buildings.
Kielce
Collegiate Church complex (currently the cathedral) and Bishops' Palace (interiors) with garden.
Kraków-Bielany
Cameldolite Abbey complex (interiors of the church).
Kraków-Tyniec
Benedictine Abbey with surroundings (cliffs).
Krzeszów
Cistercian Monastery. Church - interior, esp. mausoleum of the Silesian Piasts, St. Joseph's Church, and pavilions.
Kwidzyn
Complex of the cathedral (interior) and castle of the Pomezanian Council.
Leżajsk
Bernardine Abbey with church (interior), monastery, pilgrimage courtyards, and fortifications.
Lubiąż
Cistercian Abbey. Church and monastery (interiors, esp. the Ducal Room), Ducal Chapel, Our Lady of Loretto Chapel.
Pelplin
Cistercian Abbey (currently the cathedral). Church (interior - stalls), monastery (arcades, chapter-house).
Płock
Tumski Hill complex with cathedral (interior), castle, and canonical buildings.
Poznań
Complex on the island of Ostrow Tumski. Cathedral - interior with the Golden Chapel, Collegiate Church of the Holiest Virgin Mary, Psalteria / Choristers' Home, uncovered remains of pre-Romanesque buildings.
Strzelno
Monastic complex of the Order of Norbertine Nuns (interior - columns, side portal) and St. Procopius' Church.
Sulejów
Cistercian Abbey. Exterior of abbey complex along with defensive perimeter walls, interiors of church and capitulary building (architectural details).
Święta Lipka / Holy Lime Tree
Complex of the Jesuit Monastery and pilgrims' buildings (interior of church).
Wambierzyce
Pilgrimage complex.
Wąchock
Cistercian Abbey. Exterior of monastic complex, interior of church, interior of capitulary building, fraternity building and refectory (architectural details), tombstone of the Abbott Gerard, tombstone of the Abbot Zaborowski.
Wigry
Complex of the Camaldoleses Monastery.
Wrocław
Ostrow Tumski and Piasek Island. Cathedral - interior along with interiors of Baroque chapels; Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross - interiors on both levels; St. Giles' Church and council house, Church of SS Peter and Paul - interior. Bishops' Palace, canonical scholars' home and other buildings. Church of St. Mary on the Sand - interiors with Baroque monastery.
CASTLES AND KEEPS
Brzeg
Renaissance castle of the Princes of Brzeg (exterior view, esp. gate building, arcaded courtyard).
Giżycko
Boyen Keep
Gołub-Dobrzyń
Castle of the Teutonic Knights
Krasiczyn
Krasicki Castle dating from the Renaissance along with its park.
Lidzbark Warmiński
Castle of the Warmian Bishops along with forecastle (courtyard, Gothic interiors).
Niedzica
Dunajec Castle.
Nowy Wiśnicz
Lubomirski Castle within its fortifications.
Pieskowa Skała
Szafraniec Castle (courtyard) with forecastle.
Ujazd
"Cross-Axe / Krzyztopor" Ossolinski Castle.
Wałbrzych-Książ
Hochberg Castle (interiors).
Wojnowice near Środa Śląska
Boner Family Castle (courtyard).
PALACES AND MANOR HOUSES
Baranów Sandomierski
Leszczynski Castle (courtyard).
Białystok
Branicki Palace complex with garden.
Gołuchów
Działyński Palace-Castle with park (additionally, courtyard and castle interiors).
Kamieniec Ząbkowicki
Neo-Gothic Royal Castle with park.
Kozłówka
Complex of Zamoyski Palace – palace (interiors) with its wings.
Książ Wielki
Palace buildings with pavilions.
Lubostroń
Classicistic palace of the Skorzewski family (interiors) with adjoining buildings.
Łańcut
Residential complex of the Lubomirski family (palace interiors).
Nieborów
Radziwill Palace (interiors) with surrounding park.
Opinogóra
Neo-Gothic castle of the Krasiński family.
Poddebice
Late Renaissance defensive manor of the Grudzinski family.
Pszczyna
Palace complex (interiors) with park, town hall, and church.
Sorkwity
Neo-Gothic palace
Śmiełów
Classicistic palace (interiors).
Tułowice
Classicistic manor
Warszawa
Palace and garden complex of Lazienki with the Palace on the Water (interior of ground floor and southern chambers on upper floor) with adjoining structures and Belvedere Palace.
Warszawa-Wilanów
Palace (interiors) with wings, drive, and park.
Żagań
Baroque palace with landscaped park.
CHURCHES AND CHAPELS
Białystok
Modernistic Church of St. Roch (interior).
Brochów
Fortified Renaissance church with bastions around perimeter.
Chwarszczany
Early Gothic chapel of the Templars.
Cieszyn
Romanesque rotunda (interior).
Czerwińsk
Romanesque church and monastery of canon regulars (exterior view, interior of vestibule with Romanesque portal, interior of Gothic refectory).
Gostyń
Church and monastery of the Order of St. Phillip (church interior).
Inowłódz
Romanesque Church of St. Giles (interior).
Kleczkowo
Gothic parish church with perimeter fortifications.
Kruszwica
Collegiate Church of SS Peter and Paul (exterior and interior).
Krzeszowice
Neo-Gothic St. Martin's Church.
Legnickie Pole
Church (interior) and Benedictine monastery.
Łęczyca-Tum
Collegiate Church of the Holiest Virgin Mary (along with garden) - exterior view.
Nysa
Collegiate Church of St. Jacob (interior).
Olsztyn
Parish Church of St. Jacob (interior).
Opatów
Collegiate Church (view from exterior and interior with Renaissance tombstones of the Szydlowieckis - "Lament on the Abbott / Lament Opatowski", altar with "Madonna" by Lukasz Cranach).
Stargard Szczeciński
Church of the Holiest Virgin Mary
Strzegom
Church of the Order of St. Anne (interior).
Świerzawa-Sedziszowa
Romanesque church - exterior view and interior with Romanesque frescoes in the apsid.
Wiślica
Collegiate Church of the Holiest Virgin Mary (interior - remains of cellars of earlier churches, esp. Romanesque figurative floor mural in crypt) along with the remains of St. Nicholas' Church.
Wrocław
Parish Church of St. Elizabeth (interior) with old cemetery and burghers' houses from the Central Square.
Wrocław
Bernardine church and monastery (Museum of Architecture); interiors of church and monastery - arcades.
WOODEN STRUCTURES
Biskupin
Settlement dating back to Lusatian culture (archeological reserve).
Chotyniec
Wooden Orthodox church
Dębno k. Nowego Targu
Wooden Gothic church (interior).
Haczów
Wooden Gothic church (interior).
Hel
Fishermen's homes
Hrebenne
Wooden Orthodox Church with bell tower.
Karpacz
Wooden Romanesque Wang church.
Łopuszna
Wooden Baroque manor house (interior).
Ożarów
Wooden Baroque manor house (interior).
Świdnica
Half-timbered house
OTHERS
Arkadia
Romantic landscape park with pavilions.
Chojna
Gothic town hall
Łódź
Palace (interiors) and factory complex on Ogrodowa Street, belonging at one time to the industrial magnate Poznański.
Wieliczka
Interior of the salt mine.
Wrocław
Old Town Hall - facades with sculpted details, interiors.
Wrocław
University complex with interior of the Aula Leopoldina, the Music Auditorium, and main staircase along with Jesuit Church (interior) and old cardinals' college building.
Wrocław
People's Hall (interior) with its primary axis and adjoining exhibition pavilions.