St. Mary's Basilica (Bazylika Mariacka), Krakow, PL

In Krakow’s Rynek Glowny, St. Mary’s Basilica is a centerpiece of Polish history. 

With 13^th century origins, its’ architecture, altarpiece and stained glass are widely

admired.  It is also very well known for the Hejnal Mariacki.

 In the 13th century, lookouts from the city's guilds stood watch from St. Mary's towers to warn residents of imminent attacks.  One morning seeing an approaching cavalry, a watchman began trumpeting

 an alarm.  An invading archer shot the trumpeter in the throat, abruptly ending his warning.

Today, each hour, a trumpeter plays a plaintive tune, Hejnal Mariacki, which ends mid-stream in

 honor of the slain watchman.  The noon hejnal is broadcast live across Poland on Polish National Radio.

 

The Basilica’s main altarpiece is a Polish national treasure.  Hand carved of wood in the 1400's, the 
 altar stands 262’ high and features several 12’ high figures, each carved from a native tree trunk.
 During WWII, the altar was dismantled by Poles and hidden. When found by Germans it was stolen, 
 transported to Bavaria and hidden in the Nuremburg Castle.  Discovered by Polish POW's held 
 there, it was recovered after the war in 1946, restored and reinstalled 10 years later.

Art from Travels

As one visits major cities, historic locations and many lesser known sites spotted across the 

globe, often seen are captivating, memorable scenes captured on canvas by local artists.
Their artwork offers a unique interpretation of that special view, that memory, that moment in time.

A watercolor impression of the Rynek Glowny in Krakow, Poland is such a piece of art.

An artist's brush takes one back to a time when, standing in the portico of Krakow's 
Cloth Hall, Polish history, legends and folk tales seemingly came to life.  The

story of the legendary Hejnal Mariacki (more here); the Nazi's theft of the

altarpiece from St. Mary's Basilica; the Cloth Hall as a center for European trade

and the ancient tale of the pigeons at Rynek Glowny really being 13th century

knights (more here) unfolded in real time in one's mind, while standing in the portico.

Today, a painting recalls that day and those thoughts.  It plays with the mind and

imagination of a wanderer of Polish ancestry.

                                                                                             (more on St. Mary's Basilica and art in coming posts)