Ostrów Lednicki - pilne zadanie konserwatorskie

• Authors: Konopka Marek

Title variants

EN

OSTRÓW LEDNICKI - AN URGENT TASK FOR CONSERVATIONS

• Languages of publication: PL EN

Abstracts

EN

Several years ago the National Committee of the ICOMOS presented a list of over ten complexes of historical monuments which could compete for a place on the list of world cultural and natural heritage. Ostrow Lednicki was one of them. An analysis of criteria which meet the conditions for justifying such a proposal indicates that it would be difficult to demonstrate the uniqueness of Ostrow on a global scale. The castle and the ruins of tenth-twelfth-century buildings do not constitute an unprecedented example. Ostrow Lednicki is, however, undoubtedly of exceptional value both on a national and European scale. Its merits include an unchanged landscape which combines cultural and natural values, a unique historical site connected by means of relics and their symbols with the beginning of the state and Christianity in Poland, as well as the discovery of the original function of a chapel which according to archeological and architectonic investigations conducted during the recent years, was, in its oldest stage, a baptistry associated with the baptism of dignitaries and knights closest to Mieszko I. In addition, we have the greatly probably hypothesis that the foundations of a small church discovered by J.Łomnicki next to the palatium are part of the first Polish church erected for bishop Jordan, a missionary who arrived together with Dobrawa to consolidate the Christian faith of our forebears. Had we had 27 years ago at our disposal our present-day knowledge then the ceremonies commemorating a thousand years of Polish statehood would have been celebrated in Lednica (near Gniezno). In seven years, however, this locality could still play a special role: in 2000 we whall recall the anniversary of the extraordinary events which took place in the year 1000 when Emperor Otto III made a pilgrimage to the tomb of St.Wojciech. The accompanying council established the metropolitan organization of the Polish Church and an independent archbishopric in Gniezno; since only a king was entitled to perform the investiture of a bishop, Bolesław, the duke of Poland, was crowned by the Emperor. The meeting inaugurated an independent church and sovereign secular power. This was the de iure birth of the Polish state. The alliance between Otto III and Bolesław also reflected the universalist policy pursued by the Emperor who envisaged a united Europe based on the principle of partnership. His successors already referred to a different political conception and a whole millenium had to pass before Otto's plans could be realized. In seven years, the union of the Polish Republic and Europe will, hopefully, materialize and we can expect that this special anniversary of an unusual episode in the history of Europe will be duly honoured. It is quite possible that an analogous meeting of the leaders of Poland and Germany, and probably other European partners, will take place. Gniezno and Ostrow Lednicki, the site of unique relics from the past, which witnessed historical moments, should be suitably prepared. Care should be taken to properly exploit the symbolism of the locality and to inform society about the rank of Ostrow and the findings made there. It is necessary to publish the results of investigation not only in Polish; popular publications and a suitable display of the entire complex are just as urgent. These undertakings, however, must be preceded by conservation work which will prevent the growing process of deterioration that, unfortunately, affects the oldest elements of the complex — the baptistry and the palatium. Their state depends not only on intervention but to an equal degree on the creation of such a system of protection which will prevent the impact of climatic factors. The method of conserving architectural monuments proposed by S.Skibiński takes into account complex operations and includes the conception of safeguarding the whole monument, as well as an interesting and novel suggestion of a display based on holography, which does not disturb the substance and does not interfere by means of artificial devices.

• Publisher: Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa
• Journal: Ochrona Zabytków
• Year: 1993
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 17-19

Dates

published

1993

Contributors

author

Konopka Marek

References

• K. Ż u ro w s k a , „Wiadomości Konserwatorskie" 1991, Nr 3-4, s. 30.
• Ustawa o ochronie dobr kultury i o muzeach z 1962 r., Dz.U. nr 10, poz. 46 i Dz.U. Nr 56, poz. 322, art. 6. 3
• G. L a b u d a , Mieszko II Krol Polski (1025-1034), Krakow 1992, ss. 28-29.
• Z . K u rn a to w s k a , Ostrow Lednicki - gród Mieszka I, wyd. Muzeum Pierwszych Piastow 1992.
• Z . K u rn a to w s k a , „Wiadomości Konserwatorskie" 1991, Nr 3-4, ss. 34-35.

Identifiers

ISSN

0029-8247