Ten Places Where Poland Began: A Journey Through the Origins of the Polish State

ostrow_tumski_dobrawa_mieszko_szklane_fot._archiglass.jpg, default, Exhibition of the relics of Mieszko I’s palatium on Ostrów Tumski in Poznań, design: Pracownia Projektowa J.P. Woźny; architects: Przemysław Woźny (le

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In 1025, Poland crowned its first king and emerged as a fully fledged state, securing its place on the European stage. A millennium later, the traces of those beginnings still shape the country’s landscape. Take a journey with us through 10 key sites uncovering where Poland began – and how its earliest history can still be read in stone, soil, and story.

Bolesław I the Brave was born in 967 and ascended to power in the Duchy of Piast in 992, following the death of his father, Mieszko I.

Bolesław I the Brave wearing the coronation crown of Polish kings – painting by Marcello Bacciarelli, 1770, photo: Royal Castle in Warsaw

Today, historians are convinced that Bolesław I was one of the most significant – if not the most significant – rulers in the history of Poland. Thanks to his political, diplomatic, and military skills, he strengthened the country’s position on the continent and shaped its statehood, power, and importance. Although he did not wear the crown for long, as he died a few months after the ceremony, the coronation in 1025 symbolically sealed his relatively long reign. Even if we accept, as some historians suggest, that the Congress of Gniezno in 1000 was the most pivotal event of Bolesław I the Brave’s reign, the coronation of the first king established Poland as an independent, sovereign state.

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Golden Chapel, Poznań Cathedral, photo: Henryk Przondziono/Gość Niedzielny/Forum

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It should be noted, however, that the formation and consolidation of an entity such as a state does not happen quickly – it is a process that spans generations. That process is reinforced by important events such as royal coronations, but it must also involve the establishment of institutions, seats of power, infrastructure, and gaining recognition from neighbouring states. It requires social acceptance, the building of a community, and a sense of identity. All these phenomena occurred on Polish lands long before and many years after the coronation of Bolesław I the Brave. Although we are discussing events that took place over a thousand years ago, various material traces from that era have survived to the present day. You can embark on a journey through Poland, exploring relics from the times when our statehood was being formed.

Ostrów Lednicki

Ostrów Lednicki is an island situated on Lake Lednica, several kilometres west of Gniezno. This site was one of the most important administrative centres, first for the Polans and later for the Piast rulers. During the reigns of Mieszko I and Bolesław I the Brave, it also played a vital role in the defence system. The island was probably inhabited as early as 6,000 years ago. In the 8th century, an early medieval settlement was established there, which by the 10th century had already evolved into a vast fortified stronghold visited by Mieszko I and Bolesław the Brave. Encircled by a high rampart, it housed a brick ducal palatium – the ruler’s residence – with a baptistery and a church; the other buildings of the stronghold were made of wood. Two bridges connected the island to the mainland. Repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, the stronghold ultimately lost its significance after the capital was moved to Kraków.

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Ruins of the palatium and chapel (site No. 2404/A), Ostrów Lednicki, photo: Magda Felis/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Poland

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One theory says that it was here that Poland was baptised in 966, and that Bolesław I the Brave probably welcomed Emperor Otto III on the island. The first archaeological excavations on Ostrów Lednicki were carried out in the mid-19th century. The site and the lake bed were also examined during the interwar period, and excavations have been conducted continuously since 1948. In 1969, the Museum of the Origins of the Polish State was established in Gniezno, which also includes the Ostrów Lednicki site. Five years later, the Museum of the First Piasts, operating under its own statute, began functioning on the island. In 1994, Ostrów Lednicki was recognised as a Historic Monument, which is the highest form of conservation protection for a monument in Poland.

Today, on Ostrów Lednicki, you can see the remains of defensive walls and stone buildings, a palatium with two baptismal fonts, a chapel, and a tower. The palace complex underwent multiple expansions, and its oldest preserved remnants date back to the 10th century. The walls of the castle, the church, and the bridge abutments have also been preserved. The museum displays a rich collection of artefacts found during archaeological excavations.

Gniezno

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The Primatial Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, photo by Bernard Bialorucki/Getty Images

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Although the princes and kings of the Piast dynasty had various seats, Gniezno was the most important of them. Its status as the first capital of Poland is confirmed by the fact that the first five kings of Poland were crowned here: Bolesław I the Brave, Mieszko II, Bolesław II the Bold, Przemysł II and Wenceslaus II. The coronations took place in the archcathedral located on a hill known as Lech’s Hill. The first church in this location was probably founded by Mieszko I (although Jan Długosz reported that it was his wife, Doubravka, who did so); by 999, Gniezno had become the seat of the archbishopric, and the importance of the place was ultimately confirmed when the remains of the martyr St. Adalbert were interred there. Subsequent rulers expanded the cathedral and added new elements; around 1175, the bronze Gniezno Doors, depicting scenes from the life of St. Adalbert, were commissioned.

Although Gniezno eventually lost its status as the capital of the Piast kingdom, it still remains the most significant symbolic location marking the beginning of Polish statehood. In 1978, a complex commemorating the Millennium of the Polish State was erected opposite the Gniezno Archcathedral, on the other side of Lake Jelonek. The structure was intended to commemorate this important anniversary in a secular manner. The team, led by Bogdan Celichowski, designed a horizontal complex comprising the Museum of the Origins of the Polish State, a secondary school building, a square and two monuments – of Mieszko I and Bolesław I the Brave.

Poznań, Ostrów Tumski

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Exhibition of relics from the palatium of Mieszko I on Ostrów Tumski in Poznań, designed by Pracownia Projektowa J.P. Woźny, architects Przemysław Woźny (lead designer), Paweł Dzidek, Karol Kafarski, Joanna Wystańska-Woźny, Agnieszka Bielecka, fot. Piotr Skórnicki/AW

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Ostrów Tumski in Poznań is another island of great significance in Polish history. Conveniently located between the Warta and Cybina rivers, it was an important settlement as early as the 9th century. The prince’s palatium, along with the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was built here in 965 on the initiative of Mieszko I. A few years later, Ostrów Tumski became the seat of the bishopric. At that time, the construction of the cathedral commenced. Initially, an early Romanesque basilica with three naves was built; later, it was reconstructed in the Gothic style and then altered to reflect changing artistic trends, including a comprehensive alteration during the Baroque period. Mieszko I, Bolesław I the Brave, Mieszko II Lambert, Casmir I the Restorer, and Przemysł II are interred in Poznań Cathedral.

The interior of the church is adorned with numerous valuable objects from various periods. Alongside Gniezno Cathedral, Poznań Cathedral stands as the most important symbol of the beginnings of Polish statehood. It was here, in the cathedral, that the so-called Golden Chapel was built to ‘keep the spirit of Polishness alive’ after the partitions. Designed by Franciszek Maria Lanci, it serves as a mausoleum for the first Piast kings, featuring a rich ideational programme developed by Edward Raczyński.

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Interactive Centre for the History of Ostrów Tumski – ICHOT Gate of Poznań and a fragment of the historic Cathedral Lock on Ostrów Tumski, photo: Łukasz Gdak

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Interaktywne Centrum Historii Ostrowa Tumskiego – ICHOT Brama Poznania

The island in Poznań is home to numerous valuable monuments, as well as contemporary structures designed to ‘complement’ and honour the historical significance of this place. These include the Genius Loci Archaeological Reserve, opened in 2012, which showcases archaeological monuments; the Gate of Poznań – Interactive Centre for the History of Ostrów Tumski (designed by Ad Artis Emerla Jagiełłowicz Wojda), which tells the story of the beginnings of Poznań and the Polish state; and an unusual glass installation created in 2021, depicting the life-size outline of the walls of Mieszko I’s palatium (designed by Pracownia Projektowa J.P. Woźny).

Wawel Hill

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Model of the Rotunda of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Wawel, made in 1918, by Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz, photo: M. Lasyk/Reporter/East News. Rotunda of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Wawel, Krakow, photo: Mateusz Skwarczek/AW

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Although the centre of the young Polish state was situated in Greater Poland, Bolesław I the Brave gradually expanded the territory under his rule. By the end of the 10th century, he had conquered the stronghold on Wawel Hill, thereby incorporating Lesser Poland into the Piast state. On a rocky hill above the Vistula River, the Vistulans established their settlement in the 9th century, but the area had been inhabited by various tribes since prehistoric times. The bishopric was founded in Kraków in 1000; at that time, the first Romanesque cathedral was also built; unfortunately, despite extensive research, its appearance could not be reconstructed. As early as the 11th century, during the reign of Casimir I the Restorer, Kraków gained the status of Poland’s capital. This led to the development of construction projects; the royal residence was enlarged, and the cathedral underwent an expansion and transformation in appearance.

Although no remnants from the first Wawel Cathedral have been found, other monuments from the era of the first kings have been preserved on the hill in Kraków. The oldest structure is the Rotunda of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which probably dates back to the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries and is now an exhibit at the Lost Wawel archaeological reserve. At Wawel, you can also see small-scale objects that are no less important for the earliest history of Poland. These include coins minted during the reign of successive rulers and architectural details of medieval buildings (e.g. fragments of Romanesque flooring and Gothic keystones).

Giecz

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Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Masovia in Płock, photo: Wojciech Wojcik/Forum

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Today, Giecz is a village in Greater Poland, but during the reign of Mieszko I and Bolesław I the Brave, it was one of the most important centres of the first Piast dynasty. Although Gniezno was considered the capital of Poland at that time, there were many other cities of great importance for the state. The prince who later became king often travelled across his lands, so he needed to have many administrative centres linked to his residences. One of them was Giecz, located 20 km from Poznań and 30 km from Gniezno. A thousand years ago, today’s village was a large, fortified stronghold. Little from that era has survived to this day: the outline of the ramparts is still visible, and remnants of the palatium and the rotunda of the chapel can be seen. In the former outer bailey, a small Romanesque church, probably dating from the 12th century, has been preserved. Since 1963, the village has hosted an archaeological reserve (one of the branches of the Museum of the First Piasts in Lednica) and a museum.

Płock

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Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Masovia in Płock, photo: Wojciech Wojcik/Forum

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On Tumskie Hill in Płock, during the reign of Mieszko I and Bolesław I the Brave, a stronghold stood that evidenced the importance of this city on the map of the Piast state. The stronghold was expanded during the reign of successive monarchs; however, the earliest significant structures on this site were wooden, which is why their relics have not survived to the present day. The cathedral in Płock was originally made of wood (it was constructed when the bishopric was established in the town in 1075). According to Gallus Anonymus’s Chronicles, it was the place where Bolesław III Wrymouth was knighted in 1099. By the mid-12th century, the church had already acquired stone walls and was still undergoing expansion. For instance, at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, it gained two Gothic towers. There were periods when Płock gained significance: at the transition between the 11th and 12th centuries, it was effectively the capital of Poland. Consequently, several rulers and notable princes were interred in the Royal Chapel of the Cathedral Basilica, including Władysław I Herman, Bolesław III Wrymouth, Bolesław IV the Curly, Konrad I of Masovia, and Bolesław II of Masovia.

Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec

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Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec, photo: Ewa Maciejczyk/Forum

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It is the oldest monastery in Poland still in existence today. In medieval Europe, the development of states was closely intertwined with the Church, and the founding of monastic communities played an important role in this process. The origins of the Benedictine abbey in Tyniec, near Kraków, remain uncertain, though most researchers believe it was established by Casimir the Restorer in 1044. By the second half of the 11th century, a complex of Romanesque buildings already stood on the steep hill overlooking the Vistula, later expanded and rebuilt over the centuries. The Gothic presbytery of the monastery basilica is one of the surviving relics of the Middle Ages.

Piast Castle in Legnica

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Piast Castle in Legnica, photo: Marek Maruszak/Forum

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A wooden stronghold probably stood on this site as early as the 8th century; it was considerably enlarged during the reign of Mieszko I, who, when incorporating Silesia into the Piast state, created its defence system. During the reign of Bolesław the Curly at the end of the 12th century, a fortified castle was built here; its defensive capabilities proved effective, particularly during the Mongol invasion in 1241, which it successfully withstood. Although the castle was rebuilt and expanded numerous times thereafter, it still has elements from the earliest period of its existence. These include the relics of a Romanesque palace built for Henry the Bearded in the 13th century, as well as the stone and brick remnants of a Romanesque chapel dedicated to St. Benedict and St. Lawrence, along with the Romanesque walls of several defensive towers.

Literary artefacts

The turbulent history of our continent makes it difficult to preserve written artefacts – manuscripts easily perish as a result of wars and looting.

First page of the 'Book of Henryków', photo: Public domain

This makes it all the more worthwhile to appreciate those paper relics that have survived for a thousand years and are preserved to this day. One such artefact is a document believed to have been drawn up around 991. The ‘Dagome Iudex’ is a document in which Mieszko I confirms the transfer of his state to the protection of the Holy See. Today, it is housed in the Vatican Library.

The Polish collections housed in the Archdiocesan Archives in Wrocław include the ‘Księga Henrykowska’ (Book of Henryków), which was written in 1268 and describes the founding of the Cistercian Abbey in Henryków. It is a doubly valuable artefact: both as a relic of medieval writing and as the oldest document containing a fragment of text in Polish. For the same reasons, the 15th-century manuscript of ‘Bogurodzica’ (Mother of God), housed in the Jagiellonian Library, is of great value, as are the chronicles, which serve as a valuable source of knowledge. These include Gallus Anonymus’s chronicle, which remains preserved to this day in the form of a handwritten entry in the ‘Kodeks zamojski’ (Zamoyski Codex) from the end of the 14th century (kept in the collection of the Library of the Zamoyski Family Entail) and the chronicle of Jan Długosz from the mid-15th century (in the collection of the Czartoryski Library – National Museum in Kraków). Among the important literary monuments are also religious texts written in Polish and Latin: ‘Kazania świętokrzyskie’ (Holy Cross Sermons) from the 14th century and the slightly younger ‘Kazania gnieźnieńskie’ (Gniezno Sermons).

Coronation insignias

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Szczerbiec exhibited at the State Art Collections in Wawel, Kraków, photo: CC BY-SA 2.0

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The crown, sceptre, sword, and orb are the most significant symbols of power, representing the permanence and continuity of authority. They are used not only during coronation ceremonies but also by generations. These symbols are therefore valuable both literally, as they are crafted from precious materials, and figuratively, as they embody the essence of the state. The first insignias of power in Poland were presented to Bolesław I the Brave by Emperor Otto III during the Congress of Gniezno in 1000. The tip of Saint Maurice’s spear has been preserved to this day and is kept as a relic in the Wawel Cathedral treasury since the 12th or 13th century. Additionally, on Wawel Hill, in the Crown Treasury, there is Szczerbiec, the coronation sword, the only surviving coronation insignia of the Piast dynasty.

It was used during the accession ceremonies of successive rulers, most likely from 1320 to 1764. The Wawel Crown Treasury, established during the reign of Władysław Łokietek, who moved the coronation ceremony from Gniezno to Kraków along with the contents of the royal treasury, lost part of its collection due to wars and looting. Nonetheless, to this day, many objects related to power throughout the centuries can be seen, including banners, elements of armour, and royal jewels.

Translated from Polish by Agnieszka Mistur

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