Bernardine monastery and church
   Photo: Bernardine monastery and church

Bernardine monastery and church - monastery complex in the late Gothic style, located in Radom in the immediate vicinity of the city of Kazimierz. One of the best preserved monasteries in Poland. The building was built in several stages.

The history of the monastery dates back to the second half of the fourteenth century, when Bernardine appealed to King Casimir IV Jagiellonian a request for allocation of land. The place was designated in 1468 and approved by the Bishop of Krakow. Initially, the church and monastery were built of wood. Because of its location outside the city walls, the monastery was built in the shape of a fortress, it was built around the building wall that keeps the defense in case of enemy attack. The monastery was built a small brick factory, where all the bricks have been made for repairs.

The monastery and the church were rebuilt in several stages. Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria was built in the late fifteenth century. In 1911-1912, the church was expanded by architect Stefan Szillerom.

The interior of the church is particularly noteworthy main altar decorated with wooden images of St. John the Divine, the Mother of God and Christ. It is possible that the sculptures were created in the workshop of Veit Stoss. The altar in the Rococo style is made in the second half of the eighteenth century. Inside the church you can see many epitaphs and tombstones from various eras.

Church and monastery at various times visited by many Polish kings and famous people. After the January Uprising, the monastery was turned into a prison for the rebels. Bernardine returned to the city only in 1936.

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