On the route of Brick Gothic

European Route of Brick Gothic Association (Ger. Europäische Route der Backsteingotik e.V.) was established in September 2007 as a continuation of the project of the EU under the same name. Over 30 towns and districts from Germany, Denmark and Poland are a part of it.

 

It was the Brick Gothic that left its traces in the landscape of the region of the Baltic Sea and even far into the land. Churches, town halls, monasteries and the defensive town walls and entrance gates-all speak in the common language marked with great breakthroughs which took place in the 13th century and later. It was a period of strengthening of Christianity in Europe and of building cities, monasteries and castles. It was an important time for this region in the Medieval Europe. Subsequent centuries brought along both the periods of prosperity and fires of cities, successes and wars, foes and friends... Many wonderful relics of Brick Gothic survived these unstable times – after all they were built with regard to eternity. While travelling along the European Route of Brick Gothic you can see that the buildings, the cities and the countries around the Baltic Sea as well as far on the south, to a different extent were subject to the impacts of the same events.

 

Additional information can be found at www.eurob.org

 

The facilities of the European Route of Brick Gothic in Płock

The Domincans arrived to Płock in 1225 and the Duke Conrad of Mazovia funded Saint Dominic's church for them, which was already mentioned in the localisation document from Płock of 1237. In 1243 the temple was burned and rebuilt a year later. In 1804 Prussians took over the monastery and Saint Dominic's Church and by removing the monks they gave the church to the Evangelical parish. After World War II Catholics bought it back from the Evangelicals and at present this is the church of the Roman Catholic Parish of Saint Maximilian M Kolbe created in 1975.

 

Contact:

St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish

ul. Kościuszki 16

09-402 Płock

tel. +48 (0)24/2623549

 

Dom pod Trąbami in the Middle Ages used to be adjacent to the town wall and served as the residence of Płock canons. It was located in the neighbourhood of Wyszogrodzka Gate. The building is characterized by very thick walls, massive buttresses and cellars with Gothic vaults. On the top of the building there is a noble coat of arms "Trąby (Horns)", from which the house took its name. In the past theological seminar were located in the building and at present Catholic organizations and associations have their registered office here.

 

Contact:

Płock Diocesan Curia

ul. Tumska 3

09-402 Płock

tel. +48 (0)24/2680460

 

The Benedictine abbey was established in Płock before 1172. Around halfway through the 16th century the Benedictines built a Gothic St. Albertus Church and a monastery between the castle towers.

In 1781. the monks were transferred to Pułtusk and the abbey was rebuilt and intended for a theological seminar. In 1866 the buildings were confiscated by the tsarist authorities. Then the facility served as a school, a residential building and a museum. The beginnings of the Płock castle date back to the 13th century. In the 14th century the entire hill was enclosed with the second ring of fortifications. With the course of years the buildings slumped into the Vistula River and the remains were demolished. The relics of the Płock castle are Noblemen's and Clock Towers and the western wall of the abbey.

 

Contact:

Płock Diocesan Curia

ul. Tumska 3

09-402 Płock

tel. +48 (0)24/2680460

 

The former canonry was built in approx. 1445 by Stefan of Miszewo. In 1908 the building was bought by the Płock Scientific Society and designated for a registered office. The Płock Scientific Society, established in 1820 is one of the oldest general regional scientific societies in Poland. It also offers a well-known nationwide Zielińscy Public Library with a book collection that the researchers of Płock and the region use extensively.

 

Contact:

Płock Scientific Society 

Plac Narutowicza 8

09-402 Płock

tel. +48 (0)24/2622604

fax +48 (0)24/3669950

email: aktnp@interia.pl

 

The beginnings of the collegiate reach the 12th century. Its foundress was Dobiechna – a widow after Wojsław, the caretaker of Boleslaus the Wry-Mouthed. In 1180 a "trivium" school was established at the collegiate. A Gothic tower was erected in the 15th century. In the 17th in the collegiate was taken over by the Jesuite Order which expanded it. After the takeover of the school in 1773 by the Commission of National Education, the building was rebuilt according to the design of Stanisław Zawadzki and in 1843 according to the design of Antoni Corazzi. The present High School, from 1921 under the name of the Marshall Stanisław Małachowski, is recognized as the oldest school in Poland.

 

Contact:

St Małachowski High School

ul. Małachowskiego 1

09-400 Płock

tel. +48 (0)24/3666600

fax +48 (0)24/3663601

email: malachowianka@op.pl

 

Former defensive tower from the 14th century is a relic of the defensive walls elevated during the reign of King Kazimierz the Great. Near, at the corner of Kazimierza Wielkiego and at Okrzei Street, was located one of three gates of entry to the town - Dobrzyńska gate. At the end of the 18th century the tower was rebuilt and adapted for residential purposes. From 1899 until War World 2 there was a Jewish asylum for the elderly and the handicapped. Presently in the building the conservation office has its seat.

 

Contact:

The Mazovian Voivodeship Office for Protection of Monuments,

- Office in Płock

ul. Zduńska 13a

09-400 Płock

tel. +48 (0)24/2627671

email: basztaplock@wp.pl

 

Płock was once surrounded by thick and high walls on the basis of the privilege from 1353 issued by King Kazimierz the Great. The document specified, among others, the technical parameters and the manner of financing the fortifications. The construction lasted approx. 16 years, and the wall ended up being approx. 1700 meters long. From the west and the north-the east it was surrounded by a moat. The entrance to the town was through 3 gates: Dobrzyńska, Bielska and Wyszogrodzka. At the turn of the 18th and the 19th century the wall was demolished. The preserved section is about 15 m long, approx. 5 m high and approx. 80 cm thick

 

Contact:

The Old Town Revitalisation Agency

Stary Rynek 19

09-400 Płock

tel./fax +48 (0)24/3666150

email: ars@ars.plock.pl