Wojciech Bogusławski Theatre

Erected thanks to the foundation of Duke Boleslaus the Pious. There're still few remnants from the original construction : 13th-century presbitery and 100 years younger aisles, later on rebuilt after fires in 16th cent. In the main altar you can find a late-baroque picture by Franciszek Smuglewicz "The resurrection of peasant Peter" (it's a copy of the picture by Szymon Czechowicz from the Parish Church in Poznań). The neighbouring monastery was built in 17th century on the foundations of a previous one. In its wall you can still find parts of ancient Gothic city wall.

The building dates back to the first half of 13th century. Originally it as built of wood, in 1353 reerected using bricks and founded by the Gniezno bishop Jarosław Skotnicki. There are some remnants from the original construction: the presbitery with star vaulting, but the most precious part of the temple is the treasury, with e.g. patene from 12th cent, cup from 1363 (a gift of the king Casimir the Great). The temple owns as well - modernly equipped - underground chapel, which is the main Polish place of commemorations of all priests and monks died in Nazi concentration camp in Dachau.

The temple was built in 13th century thanks to financial support from the local duke Boleslaus the Pious and the presbytery still has Gothic form (with a star-style vaulting); the side-aisles are late-Gothic, but the main aisle is already Renaissance - which is the result of the reconstruction in 16th and 17th centuries. Up to 1973 church possessed a picture by Rubens "Taking down from the cross"; unfortunately the masterpiece has disappeared after the fire in the church (now you can admire only a copy). In the interiors you can find a wonderful picture presenting the old Kalisz, epiphanies and the greatest treasure of the temple : baptistery from 13th cent. In so called Polish Chapel (called as well the Chapel of Our Lady of Consolation) – interesting polichromies and stained-glass windows according to the project by Polish writer and artist Władysław Tetmajer from 1907. Next to the church - a parish house, which in 14 and 15th centuries played the role of canonry from Roman Lateran.

This museum has archaeological, ethnographic and historical departments as well as with an interesting numismatic collection. The most precious exhibit is the sandstone grave plaque, found in the Zawodzie-reservation (look above), treated as the grave of Duke Mesko III the Old (died in 1202) from the collegiate church of St. Paul. The Museum owns as well the copy of the patane, foundation by the Duke for the Cistercian Monastery in Lad.

The Zawodzie district is the oldest district of the city, a small fortress in the Piast dynasty times. During the archeological excavations the entrance gate with a bridge and rampart were recreated, as well : the defence tower was built. The fundaments and by-ground parts of the old collegiate Romanesque church were reconstructed, too. The shape of the original timber building, the oldest temple in Kalisz, was shown on the floor. Inside you'll find 7 houses, a grave from tribal times and replicas of boats used then. There're as well too exhibitions: a multimedia one devoted to the history of the fortress and ethnographic one, organised in the housing building from the end of 18th century.