History of the crypt in the Eastern wing of the post-Cistercian monastery in Krzeszów

Aleksander Piwek, Michał Kwasek

doi:10.37190/arc250401

Abstract

This article presents the results of architectural research concerning the identified underground spaces of the Krzeszów monastic complex. The subject of the research is the crypt located in the northern part of the eastern wing of the former Cistercian monastic complex, which has not yet been sufficiently explored. This crypt holds the greatest significance among all underground spaces for understanding the construction history of the monastery.

Based on the traces found within it, several stages and phases spanning from the 14th to the 21st century were identified. The first stage refers to the period when medieval chapter house and sacristy rooms were built at ground level in the crypt’s location. During the construction of the new church, the eastern part of the preserved crypt was built with a circular staircase (circa 1730).

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2025

4(84)

Aleksander Piwek*, Michał Kwasek**

History of the crypt in the Eastern wing

of the post-Cistercian monastery in Krzeszów

DOI: 10.37190/arc250401

Published in open access. CC BY NC ND license

Abstract

The article presents the results of architectural research concerning the identied underground spaces of the Krzeszów monastic complex.

The subject of the research is the crypt located in the northern part of the eastern wing of the former Cistercian monastic complex, which has not

yet been suciently explored. The developed crypt in the eastern wing of the monastery holds the greatest signicance for understanding the histo-

ry of the monastery’s construction. Based on the traces found in the crypt, several stages and phases were identied, spanning from the 14

to the

century. The rst of these refers to the time when a medieval chapter house and sacristy were constructed at the ground level of the crypt. During

the construction of the new church, the eastern part of the crypt, which has been preserved, was built with a circular staircase (around 1730). Over

the next few years, structural, functional, and communication changes were introduced in these underground spaces. The last of these (around 1738)

involved the creation of the western part of the current crypt and its connection to the transept crypt. The construction of this additional space was

necessary to integrate it with the neighboring interiors, creating a unied complex accessible from the outside.

Keywords: Cistercians, monastery, crypt, architectural survey, Krzeszów

Introduction

The monastery in Krzeszów, erected during the Middle

Ages and subsequently modied in the Baroque style, con-

stitutes a noteworthy component of the extant monastic com-

plex. This phenomenon can be attributed to the architectural

design of the church, which comprises both above-ground

structures and subterranean crypts. A recent programme of

architectural research, undertaken in the aforementioned

spaces, has been expanded to encompass the crypts situated

beneath the transept of the church. This initiative has yield-

ed a comprehensive overview of the construction phases of

these crypts. In the crypt of the eastern wing (Fig. 1a, b), in

contrast to any other interior in Krzeszów, numerous trans-

formations from the Middle Ages to the 21

century were

identied. The site is situated beneath the present sacristy

and the adjacent corridor on the western side. The traces

found there relate only to a minor extent to the medieval

period, but they proved to be important for identifying the

stages and phases of construction in this place. The prepon

derance of the information obtained was from the Baroque

period, during which a signicant number of previously un-

known transformations took place. This phenomenon was

not only related to changes within the monastery itself, but

above all to the construction of a new, imposing monastery

church.

Current state of research

The majority of studies written on the Krzeszów Ab-

bey focus on the history of the construction of the monas-

tery church, including its exterior and interior decorative

elements. The crypt of the eastern wing of the monastery

is a subject on which there is very little literature, given

that it was inaccessible for a considerable length of time.

The layout of the crypt was published in 1984 in connec-

* ORCID:

0000-0001-9487-5091. Wydział Architektury Politech-

niki Gdańskiej (Faculty of Architecture, Gdańsk University of Technolo-

gy), e-mail: aleksander.piwek@pg.edu.pl

** ORCID:

0000-0002-3485-7219. Wydział Architektury Politech-

niki Gdańskiej (Faculty of Architecture, Gdańsk University of Techno lo-

gy), e-mail: michal.kwasek@pg.edu.pl

4 Aleksander Piwek, Michał Kwasek

tion with the inventory of the entire

church

. Prior to the

designation of the site as a visitor attraction in 2018 and

the initiation of the research project entitled “The Abbey

in Krzeszów. Architecture and natural and landscape con-

text” (2023)

, the architecture of the site was not a subject

that could be investigated. The study of all the research

results, published two years later, included an article con-

taining preliminary ndings on the history of the crypt (Pi-

wek, Kwasek, Dembicki in print). The results of the study

demonstrated the presence of functional connections, pre-

dominantly in relation to the subterranean transept of the

church. Furthermore, the study yielded insights into the

temporal framework of the construction, and the decorative

The marked stages of construction do not include changes in the

interiors of individual walls. In order to present the sequence of con-

struction steps in wall openings and window openings, the markings

refer only to the actions taken.

The inventory was conducted by a team comprising S. Wojdon,

A. Żydkowski, E. Ratajczak and J. Michalak. The documentation is

stored in the collections of the eld branch of the National Heritage In-

stitute in Wrocław, dating from 1984.

It was organized by the Faculty of Architecture of the Wrocław

University of Technology under the supervision of Prof. Ewa Łużyniecka.

elements employed during the architectural development.

It was determined that the crypt beneath the monastery is

not homogeneous. The easternmost part of the structure,

located beneath the sacristy, is believed to date back to ap-

proximately 1730, while the western part, connected to the

former by a wide passage, is estimated to have been con-

structed around 1738. A more detailed analysis of the crypt

revealed further information about the history of its con-

struction. It was not possible to provide full conrmation

of this information during the excavations. Consequently,

some of the data presented is still pending conrmation

through further research.

The historical context of the crypt is enriched by the in-

formation provided regarding the monastery (Dziurla 1974,

17–21, 29–38; Kutzner 1997, 138–139; Łużyniecka 1998,

110–111, 113–116, 118–120, 128–129; Łużyniecka 2002,

161). Its history encompasses several signicant develop-

ments, including those that occurred in the Middle Ages

(partially preserved), the Baroque period (during which the

sacristy was constructed, and the east wing underwent sub-

stantial reconstruction, along with the addition of the south

wing and the space between it and the east wing), and the

century (the demolition of the eastern wing) (Dziurla

Fig. 1. Monastery crypt: a) location (1 – church with crypts, 2 – fragment of the eastern wing of the monastery, c – crypt under investigation – yellow),

b) interior view towards the south-west, c) chronological stratification with marked nodes and photographed locations.

Markings: 1a – 1

half of the 14

century, 2a–2d – approx. 1730–approx. 1738, 3 – 19

–21

century,

4 – visible course of basement walls, 5 – invisible course of walls below ground level, 6 – ground floor walls, 7 – parts of cellars,

8 – photographs at cellar level, 9 – photograph at ground floor level, A1–A6, B1–B3 – research nodes

(own work)

Il. 1. Krypta klasztorna: a) lokalizacja (1 – kościół z kryptami, 2 – fragment wschodniego skrzydła klasztoru, c – badana krypta – kolor żółty),

b) widok wnętrza w kierunku południowo-zachodnim, c) rozwarstwienie chronologiczne z zaznaczeniem węzłów i miejsc fotografowanych.

Oznaczenia: 1a – 1. poł. XIV w., 2a–2d – ok. 1730–ok. 1738, 3 – XIX–XXI w., 4 – widoczny przebieg ścian piwnic,

5 – niewidoczny przebieg ścian poniżej poziomu terenu, 6 – ściany parteru, 7 – części piwnic, 8 – fotografie na poziomie piwnic,

9 – fotografia na poziomie parteru, A1–A6, B1–B3 –węzły badawcze (oprac. własne)

History of the crypt in the Eastern wing of the post-Cistercian monastery in Krzeszów 5

1962). With regard to the eastern wing of the monastery, it

has been established that the part connected with the sacristy

was constructed in conjunction with the extant church, while

the rest of it, including the medieval interior, was rebuilt and

extended between 1662 and 1666 (Dziurla 1962, 15, 73).

The present article draws upon the ndings of architec-

tural research conducted at the turn of the 20

and 21

cen-

turies, which have proved to be of great utility. The probable

layout of the medieval monastery was described by Ewa

Łużyniecka (1995, 143–149). In 2011, the same author pre-

sented a hypothetical division of the monastery into individ-

ual interiors (2011, 450). Furthermore, she interpreted the

ndings in the eastern wing, on its western façade and inside

the former refectory, as well as changes in the architecture.

In addition, she identied several medieval interiors, includ-

ing a vestibule, a rectangular staircase, a fraterni ty room,

and what appeared to be fragments of a chapter house. In

a subsequent publication, in cooperation with Mo ni ka Dąb -

kow ska (

Łużyniecka, Dąbkowska 2018, 344, 351), she dis-

tin guished several stages in the construction of the eastern

wing (in order from the north): the sacristy with a cor

ridor

– circa 1730, rooms with a refectory – 14

century to the 4

quarter of the 18

century, and the southern part of

the for-

mer wing (connecting to the southern wing). This publica-

tion also comprises descriptions of conservation work that

was carried out in the cloister buildings in the aftermath of

World War II. The work carried out in the monastery be-

tween 1969 and 1984 was previously presented by Woj -

ciech Kapałczyński (Kapałczyński 1997, 369–370).

Two engravings from the iconographic material relating

to, among other things, the eastern wing of the monastery

(and thus partly to the crypt) proved to be signicant. The

rst illustration is a depiction of the abbey as drawn by Mi-

chael L. Willmann in 1678. This illustration employs an ax-

onometric projection technique to showcase the state of the

abbey following its initial Baroque modications. Adjacent

to the three-story wing, cloisters remain visible, extending

to the south nave of the church. The second engraving is

a plan for the reconstruction of the monastery by J.G. Feller

from around 1770. The current sacristy, situated next to the

transept, features a circular staircase on its south wall. The

corridor adjacent to the sacristy does not have a cloister on

the west side, as observed in other buildings of the cloister.

Research findings

Methodology

The research was conducted using qualitative methods.

A comprehensive architectural inventory of the subterranean

environment was conducted, and a thorough analysis of the

relevant sources was undertaken. Excavations were conduct-

ed wherever feasible, yielding signicant insights into the

structural alterations that had ocurred within the crypt.

Results of research on the monastery crypt

In the interests of clarity and concision, the description

of the crypt has been distilled to encompass the elements

that proved most instrumental in deciphering the history of

its construction

. These have been combined with an ex-

planation of its original purpose, determined on the basis

of visual inspection and architectural research. The results

obtained, which were conrmed through excavations, were

marked on the plan with the addition of a symbol (Fig. 1c:

A1–6, B1–3).

The vaulted monastery crypt, which comprises four lu-

nettes, is divided into two sections: the eastern part A, which

is larger, and the western part B, which is smaller. These

spaces are connected by a wide passageway, and the smaller

one is additionally connected to the crypt under the transept.

The usable level is dened as hardened ground, located at

a depth of 4.36 metres below ground level at the western en-

trance to the crypt

. The southern walls of both sections of

the crypt provide the most substantial body of information.

Part A of the crypt

he stone and brick south wall in part A of the crypt fea-

tures a recess in the middle (Figs. 1c, 2a), the rear wall of

which is composed of bricks measuring 14.5–15.0 × 6.3 cm.

The height of 10 layers of bricks (and joints) laid with

their headers is 80.5 cm. The side walls are inscribed with

a glyph, and the upper structure comprises a segmental arch

that is integrated into the wall, resulting in the visibility of

only one side (the wall arch). Since the background of the

recess is not connected to its side walls (Fig. 1c: A3, A4), it

can be hypothesised that it should be considered as a brick-

ing up of a previously existing wide passage. Two distinct

categories of material can be identied in the eastern wall of

the recess: a layer of bricks (with a width of approximately

15–20 cm) and rows of stones situated behind it (see Fig-

ure 2b). This phenomenon can be attributed to the construc-

tion of the wall in two distinct phases. The stone segment

can be regarded as a remnant of an earlier stage, while the

brick element represents a subsequent addition. The western

wall of the recess contains worked stone blocks, indicating

the remains of an older, narrower passage (Fig. 2c).

Adjacent to the wall under examination is another arch,

measuring approximately 60 cm in width and 65 cm in depth.

However, its course is not parallel to that of the wall arch,

a discrepancy that is probably attributable to the dierent

times of their construction. This arch is undoubtedly later

than the wall arch. The subject begins approximately 40 cm

in front of the eastern wall and is aligned ush with the op-

posing wall. As demonstrated in Figure 1c: A1, the junction

between the eastern wall of the crypt and the protruding arch

is of particular interest. Analysis indicates that this junction

is likely secondary to the visible face of the wall. This hy-

pothesis can be substantiated by the almost vertical attach-

ment of the arch to the eastern wall, which results in a width

of only approximately 40 cm at ground level. Conversely,

the alignment of the arch with the western wall suggests that

The contemporary condition of the northern crypt has been de-

lineated in exhaustive detail in the Monograa Zespoł Krzeszowickiego

(in print), consequently, a proportion of the data has been excluded from

this article.

Within the article, the reference level (±0.00) was adopted for all

levels described.

6 Aleksander Piwek, Michał Kwasek

part B of the crypt, where an excavation could be (Fig. 1c:

B3). In the eastern wall, metal steps constructed in the 21

century have been inserted into a slanted opening, there-

by providing access to ground level. From the interior of

the crypt, the upper parts of its walls have preserved faces,

while the rest show traces of chiseling. Furthermore, the

bottom surface of the opening contains irregularly shaped

faults resembling steps. The structure is surmounted by a lu-

nette, which is a fragment of the barrel vault of part A of the

crypt. The ndings suggest that there was a high window in

this location, which was subsequently deepened to its cur-

rent form, thereby allowing access from the crypt. External-

ly, the opening still retains the form of a historic window

with stonework, similar to the nearby windows illuminating

the transept crypt.

Part B of the crypt

The upper half of the south wall surface consists of white -

washed lime plaster, while the lower half (built of stones and

a few bricks) consists of roughcast with fragments of plas-

ter (Fig. 3). This distinction can be attributed to the dier-

ing purposes of the two types of use. The lower part of the

structure was originally part of the wall foundation, and was

later incorporated into the usable interior of the basement.

In contrast, the upper part was part of the wall that formed

the usable

ground oor room from the beginning, extending

northwards (towards the church). The plaster in the upper

part exhibits several layers of whitewash, suggesting that

the interior, which has not been preserved, was in use for

a considerable duration. Furthermore, three levels are still

visible on their surfaces – traces of previously laid oors.

The lowest of these (–1.97 m), corresponding to the incep-

tion of the eastern wing’s construction, traverses approxi-

mately halfway up the observable portion of the wall, the

second is situated approximately 50 cm above it, and the

it is embedded within it (Fig. 1c: A5, A6). The aforemen-

tioned statement suggests that the western wall is composed

of two layers; the younger part is situated on the interior side

of part A of the crypt. The thickening of the wall was a result

of the repair of the vault and the reconstruction of the above-

ground part of the monastery wing.

The surfaces of the remaining walls do not demonstrate

any indications of reconstruction. The northern wall, as in-

dicated by its course, repeats the form given to the southern

wall of the transept of the present church. Consequently, it

can be deduced that the structure in discussion could only

have been erected subsequent to the construction of the

church. It is reasonable to hypothesise that the thickness of

the structure is slightly thickened just like the north wall in

Fig. 2. South wall of part A of the crypt with two arches (wall and added) and a bricked-up exit to the monastery grounds, 2023:

a) general view, b) eastern glyph, c) western glyph (photo by A. Piwek)

Il. 2. Ściana południowa części A krypty z dwoma łękami (ściennym i dostawionym) oraz zamurowanym wyjściem na teren przyklasztorny, 2023:

a) widok ogólny, b) glif wschodni, c) glif zachodni (fot. A. Piwek)

Fig. 3. South wall of part B of the crypt containing plasterwork

from the medieval period and three different floor levels, 2023

(photo by A. Piwek)

Il. 3. Ściana południowa części B krypty zawierająca tynki z okresu

średniowiecza oraz trzy różne poziomy posadzek, 2023 (fot. A. Piwek)

History of the crypt in the Eastern wing of the post-Cistercian monastery in Krzeszów 7

third (marked with a pencil) is positioned around 70 cm.

An examination of the 290-centimetre segment of the wall

revealed that the ground along this section slopes at a con-

siderable angle. The structure’s perimeter is delineated by

a transverse wall measuring 46 cm in height, constructed

from ve layers of bricks with dimensions 29,0–29,3–29,5

× 15,0 × 7,0 cm, laid alternately in a row of headers and

a row of strethers. Between the wall and the eastern wall

of the room, there is a masonry structure measuring 88 cm

in width, 58 cm in depth, and 18.5 cm in height (consid-

ered a step). This structure consists of four layers of similar

bricks, with the second and fourth layers (counting from the

top) being half the height of the other layers. The ground

level is much more leveled from the low wall with the step.

It is evident that the low partition serves to protect the south

wall and its foundations from losing stability. Such con-

cerns must have arisen because, with the deepening of the

northern part adjacent to the wall (the nal phase of chang-

es made during the Baroque period), previously invisible

parts (medieval foundations) were exposed. It was therefore

imperative to expose only the minimum of the building

structure when creating the underground passages under

the corridor, even at the cost of excluding part of the newly

built basement from current use. Moreover, the construction

of the wall impeded the ground from slipping into the area

designated for the newly created passageway between the

crypts. The construction of the wall (and the steps) is related

to the construction of part B of the crypt.

In the western wall of this part of the crypt, there is

a passage leading to the current ground level. Access to

the premises is facilitated by a metal stairs, which were in-

stalled in the 21

century. A ight of stairs and a landing,

leveled to the bottom edge of the opening (–2.37 m), are

attached to the inner wall. Furthermore, the stairs traverse

the thickness of the wall, with multiple steps extending be-

yond its exterior, into a stone well. Historically, the open-

ing functioned as a window, providing illumination to the

interior of the crypt. From the outside, its edge was encir-

cled by stonework, akin to other windows in the monastery.

In order to facilitate access to the interior of the crypt, the

opening in the wall was slightly enlarged by chiseling due

to the 21

-century purpose of the former window. In the

eastern part of the north wall, a passage to the transept crypt

is located. In its western frame, an excavation (Fig. 1c: B3)

revealed two types of material: the top layer, approx. 15–

20 cm thick, made of bricks measuring 14.5–15.0 × 6.0 cm

(the height of 10 layers of bricks with mortar is 71.5 cm),

and a row of stones located behind it. It should be assumed

that the rst mentioned was created later – after the passage

was carved out.

Interpretations

The construction traces found in the examined crypt al-

low for the determination of the stages and phases of its

creation, as well as the purpose of the changes made. In the

context of the monastery’s history and the evolution of the

church, these elements can be traced back to the period in

which the work was undertaken. Due to the fact that the in-

terior walls were covered in cement during the construction

phase, not all of the results obtained from the excavations

could be conrmed. Consequently, some of the results are

awaiting verication in further research. In consideration of

the extant ndings pertaining to the northern part of the east

wing, it can be concluded that its construction was executed

in multiple stages.

Stage 1

The rst stage pertains to the spaces outside the current

crypt (Fig. 4). To the north of the southern wall of part B of

the crypt, there was a room enclosed by the continuations

of the extant longitudinal walls of the eastern wing of the

monastery. According to Willmann’s drawing from around

1678, depicting a Gothic Cistercian church with the rst Ba-

roque modications, the southern part of the transept may

have been situated in a location analogous to that occupied

by a comparable part constructed during the Baroque period.

It is reasonable to hypothesise that a sacristy was located ad-

jacent to the transept, in which case its southern wall would

also have formed the boundary of the interior, which has

not been preserved. The aforementioned conditions, in con-

junction with the sequence of functions in the eastern wing,

suggest the possibility that the interiors above the examined

crypt may have served as a sacristy and a chapter house.

The rst interior remains unidentied. Some details have

already been established regarding the second one. The low-

est oor level identied, at –1.97 m, is likely to be associat-

ed with it (Figs. 3, 4), suggesting that its initial construction

may have commenced at approximately 2/3 of the current

crypt’s height. The chapter house on the south side ended

at the location of the current south wall of section B of the

crypt. A cloister adjoined its west wall.

The date of construction of these parts of the monastery

remains uncertain. It probably dates back to the rst half of

the 14

century. The construction of the eastern wing was

to be completed in 1454 (Łużyniecka 2002, 161). As evi-

denced by the preserved traces, the oor level of the chapter

house was raised twice (stage 1, phases b and c). The rst

time this happened was around 1427, immediately after the

devastation of the monastery and church by the Hussites

(1420–1426), thereby enabling the interior to be utilised

provisionally. The second alteration must have occurred

prior to 1454, when repairs to all the damage caused earlier

were completed in the monastery (Kutzner 1997, 134) and

the nal adjustments could be made.

Stage 2

This stage is distinguished by a series of reconstructions

of the crypt. The period under discussion may be divided

into four phases, spanning from approximately 1730 to ap -

proximately 1738. They refer to the reconstruction of the mo -

nastery, which was also substantially inuenced by chang-

made within the church. The rst transformations of the

crypt of the eastern wing are associated with the construction

of the church, or at very least its transept.

The rst phase (2a–c. 1730) entailed the demolition of

the northern segment of the east wing, thereby creating ad-

ditional space for the construction of the Baroque transept

8 Aleksander Piwek, Michał Kwasek

of the church, whose form diered signicantly from the

medieval layout

. Between the newly constructed transept

and the preserved part of the east wing, only two interiors

were planned on the ground oor. While maintaining pro-

portionality with the width of the sacristy and the passage-

way, they were displaced in an eastward direction (Fig. 4).

The rst of these was constrained by a newly constructed

section of the south wall. The construction of a subterranean

level beneath the sacristy was planned. The structure was

overhung by a ceiling, and it was hypothesised that it was

illuminated from the east by a single window. Access to the

crypt was provided by a narrow passage in the south wall

and a round staircase built into the south-west corner, which

also functioned as a connection to the individual oors of

the monastery. The dimensions and positioning of the cor-

ner pass-through are known, inter among other things, from

the monastery plan drawn by J.G. Feller circa 1770. The

location has been specically identied on the basis of pre-

served traces in the oor of the corridor on the ground oor

(connecting the interior of the eastern wing with the pavil-

ion added from the east) and is visible in the distortion of

its wall (Figs. 1c, 5). A space that was both inaccessible and

The northern part of the cloister was demolished, with its function

being transferred to the corridor without a basement, which was being

constructed at that time.

partially lled was created between the western wall of the

basement and the foundations of the corridor wall.

The second phase (2b) involved the introduction of fur-

ther signicant changes (Fig. 6). These were a consequence

of the construction of a new Baroque church. The com-

mencement of construction work on the church necessitated

the temporary closure of the presbytery crypt. The function

of the crypt was temporarily assumed by the basement un-

der the sacristy (now part A of the crypt). The interior was

adapted by widening the existing entrance towards the east.

The resultant cavities in the wall face were lled with bricks

on this side. The construction work on the wide passageway

may have instilled apprehensions regarding structural integ-

rity. In order to circumvent this issue, a substantial arch was

constructed within the designated wall, with the central por-

tion subsequently becoming the element closing the wide

passageway from above (Figs. 2, 5 ). The construction works

entailed the removal of access to the circular staircase in the

basement. One of the benecial outcomes – unless it was

another reason for the bricking up – was the separation of

the residential and burial functions. The interior was vaulted

with a longitudinal barrel vault, and illuminated by a small

window in the eastern wall. The brick covering thickened

the existing eastern wall. This was also used to reinforce

it, which, as subsequent modications demonstrated, was

not the nal construction measure of this nature, presum-

Fig. 4. Reconstruction of the plan and cross-section through the northern part of the eastern wing of stages 1 and 2 of phase a.

Legend: 1a – 1

half of the 14

century, 1b – approx. 1427, 1c – ca. 1454, 2a – ca. 1730, 3 – current state, 4 – visible course of basement walls,

5 – invisible course of walls below ground level, 6 – ground floor walls, 7 – passageway, 8 – part without basement

(elaborated by A. Piwek, M. Kwasek)

Il. 4. Rekonstrukcja planu i przekroju poprzecznego przez część północną skrzydła wschodniego etapów 1 i 2 fazy a.

Oznaczenia: 1a – 1. poł. XIV w., 1b – ok. 1427 r., 1c – ok. 1454 r., 2a – ok. 1730 r., 3 – stan obecny, 4 – widoczny przebieg ścian piwnic,

5 – niewidoczny przebieg ścian poniżej poziomu terenu, 6 – ściany parteru, 7 – przejście, 8 – część niepodpiwniczona (oprac. A. Piwek, M. Kwasek)

History of the crypt in the Eastern wing of the post-Cistercian monastery in Krzeszów 9

ably due to its suboptimal location. Comparable work was

not required on the western wall, as it was an internal wall

and did not exhibit such structural issues. Furthermore, it

had been partially lled in. The above work was probably

completed around 1731.

In phase three (2c), the southern wall of the basement

underwent a process of thinning on the outer surface, while

an internal arch was introduced to ensure stability (Fig. 7).

In the upper levels, this approach enabled the construction

of an additional section of wall on the arch, thereby increas-

ing its thickness beyond that of the basement levels. This

resulted in the wall achieving the requisite thickness, equiv-

alent to that of the earlier phases. It is indisputable that this

measure was implemented for structural reasons. This phase

of the construction of the monastery crypt was completed

around 1735.

Phase four (2d) witnessed substantial transformations,

primarily attributable to the obstruction of the pre-existing

passageway from the presbytery crypt to the transept, thus

necessitating the improvisation of an alternative means of

communication (Piwek, Kwasek, Dembicki, in print). The

most eective solution was determined to be the creation

of an access passage through the southern wall of the tran-

sept crypt, utilising the previously constructed exit in base-

Fig. 6. Reconstruction of the plan and cross-section

through the monastery crypt of stage 2 of phase b.

Markings: 1a – 1

half of the 14

century, 2a – approx. 1730,

2b – approx. 1731, 3 – current state,

4 – visible course of basement walls,

5 – invisible course of walls below ground level, 6 – ground floor walls,

– passageway, 8 – part without basement

(elaborated by A. Piwek, M. Kwasek)

Il. 6. Rekonstrukcja planu i przekroju poprzecznego

przez kryptę

klasztorną etapu 2 fazy b.

Oznaczenia: 1a – 1. poł. XIV w., 2a – ok. 1730 r., 2

b – ok. 1731 r.,

3 – stan obecny, 4 – widoczny przebieg ścian piwnic,

5 – niewidoczny przebieg ścian poniżej poziomu terenu,

6 – ściany parteru, 7 – przejście, 8 – część niepodpiwniczona

(oprac. A. Piwek, M. Kwasek)

Fig. 5. Outline of the semicircular staircase (also marked by

the curvature of the south wall) in the passageway of the eastern wing

of the monastery leading to the added pavilion, 2023

(photo by M. Kwasek)

Il. 5. Zarys półkolistej klatki schodowej (zaznaczonej także krzywizną

ściany południowej) w przejściu wschodniego skrzydła klasztornego

wiodącym do dostawionego pawilonu, 2023 (fot. M. Kwasek)

ment A to the external area of the monastery (Fig. 8). Of the

two passages of this crypt that reach the transverse wall of

the transept, only the western one was suitable for creating

a passage, as it was the only one from which it was possi-

ble to freely access every underground part. However, the

implementation of this plan necessitated the construction of

a basement beneath the corridor. The soil was removed in

such a manner that a passageway could be created

, which

was established in the narrowest part, i.e., as close as possi-

ble to the axis of the convex transept. Consequently, the con-

struction eorts were primarily concentrated on the north-

ern sector of the basement, while the southern sector was

only partially cleared and secured with a low wall. In addi-

tion, a section of the eastern wall of part B of the crypt had

Therefore, the level of the newly created interior by the transept

wall was aligned with that of basement A, while the level by the south

wall, due to its unusability, was approximately 80 cm higher.

10 Aleksander Piwek, Michał Kwasek

to be removed. Consequently, the newly created space was

integrated with the pre-existing spaces (under the sacristy

and transept) to form a unied complex. However, this un-

dertaking necessitated the demolition of a section of the

barrel vault that extended to this wall in part A of the crypt.

The repair of the ceiling was utilised to increase the thick-

ness of the wall by approximately 90 cm. Such a signicant

increase in the cross-section of the wall separating the two

basements seems to have had a more important meaning.

At ground oor level, the construction of a wall shifted to

the east was now possible, thus widening the corridor at the

expense of the sacristy. In the basement, the northern walls

of the two-part crypt, which were under construction at the

time, were given further additions. However, due to their

transverse course, they were only about 15–20 cm thick (in

part B of the crypt this is certain – Fig. 1c: B3). he western

wall located beneath the corridor was presumably fortied

in a similar method from the exterior. The second part of

the crypt was also vaulted, and the space was illuminated

by a window that had been cut into the western wall. The

external stone frame was located in the thickened part of

the wall. The construction of a new entrance to the transept

crypt, involving structural modication to parts A and B of

the existing crypt, occurred circa 1738.

Stage 3

It is associated with changes that proved necessary as

a result of historical events. The rst of these may have

been the dissolution of the monastery by the King of Prussia

in 1810. The transition of the abbey church to a parochial

church resulted in the crypt’s obsolescence, a development

that likely inuenced the decision to construct a brick wall

enclosing its entrance within the south wall of section A of

Fig. 7. Reconstruction of the plan and cross-section

through the monastery crypt of stage 2 of phase c.

Markings: 1a – 1

half of the 14

century, 2a – approx. 1730,

2b – approx. 1731, 2c – approx. 1735, 3 – current state,

4 – visible course of basement walls, 5 – invisible course of walls

below ground level, 6 – ground floor walls, 7 – passageway,

8 – part without basement (elaborated by A. Piwek, M. Kwasek)

Il. 7. Rekonstrukcja planu i przekroju poprzecznego

przez kryptę klasztorną etapu 2 fazy c.

Oznaczenia: 1a – 1. poł. XIV w., 2a – ok. 1730 r., 2b – ok. 1731 r.,

2c – ok. 1735 r., 3 – stan obecny, 4 – widoczny przebieg ścian piwnic,

5 – niewidoczny przebieg ścian poniżej poziomu terenu,

6 – ściany parteru, 7 – przejście, 8 – część niepodpiwniczona

(oprac. A. Piwek, M. Kwasek)

Fig. 8. Reconstruction of the plan and cross-section

through the monastery crypt of stage 2 of phase d.

Markings: 1a – 1

half of the 14

century, 2a – approx. 1730,

2b – approx. 1731, 2c – ca. 1735, 2d – ca. 1738, 3 – current state,

4 – visible course of basement walls,

5 – invisible course of walls below ground level, 6 – ground floor walls,

7 – passageway (elaborated by A. Piwek, M. Kwasek)

Il. 8. Rekonstrukcja planu i przekroju poprzecznego

przez kryptę klasztorną etapu 2 fazy d.

Oznaczenia: 1a – 1. poł. XIV w., 2a – ok. 1730 r., 2b – ok. 1731 r.,

2c – ok. 1735 r., 2d – ok. 1738 r., 3 – stan obecny,

4 – widoczny przebieg ścian piwnic, 5 – niewidoczny przebieg ścian

poniżej poziomu terenu, 6 – ściany parteru, 7 – przejście

(oprac. A. Piwek, M. Kwasek)

History of the crypt in the Eastern wing of the post-Cistercian monastery in Krzeszów 11

the monastery crypt. Following the arrival of the Benedic-

tines in Krzeszów in 1919, the entrance to the transept crypt

was most likely restored through the utilisation of a window

opening in the eastern wall, which was part of the same sec-

tion of the former monastery underground. Without altering

its perimeter, the portion of the wall situated beneath the

window was dismantled, thereby creating steps. The most

recent alterations, which included the installation of metal

staircases, were undertaken in 2018, coinciding with the de-

cision to open the transept crypt to visitors.

Summary

The research revealed medieval remains in the northern

part of the eastern wing, which are likely to belong to the

chapter house. The initial Baroque transformations were

precipitated by functional metamorphoses within the mon-

astery wing and the erection of a new church. The oldest

section of the crypt was the chamber situated beneath the

extant sacristy. Following the reconstruction of the presby-

tery and transept crypts, it became necessary to enlarge the

crypt under investigation with a new room located below

the previously unbasemented corridor. This provided access

to the reconstructed transept crypt. Structural considerations

were a contributing factor in the reconstruction and thick-

ening of the walls, with the aim of installing vaults in the

eastern room of the crypt (A). Several modications were

also implemented in the 21st century within the connes of

the monastery wing, with the primary objectives of enhanc-

ing visitor accessibility and bolstering the security measures

in place.

Concerns have been raised regarding the dating of the

construction of the sacristy and the crypt beneath it. These

concerns have prompted a re-examination of a version of

the construction slightly dierent from the one presented.

The initial Baroque transformations of the Krzeszów com-

plex were executed prior to 1678, concurrent with the exe-

cution of the modications depicted in Willmann’s illustra-

tion. The implementation of these changes permitted the

construction of the sacristy and the reconstruction of the

crypt in question at that time, i.e., much earlier than present-

ed in this article – before the construction of the transept of

the present church. The argument in favour of this proposal

appears to be the aesthetically and architecturally unjusti-

ed location of the axis of the monastery wing windows

at the point where they intersect with the church (the rst

row of monastery windows from the north). Furthermore,

its proximity to the transept is such that its wall partially

obscures the window band, which is an unusual occurrence

in Baroque design.

In this version, the alterations to the presented history

pertain to the second stage, which would be subject to a sig-

nicantly extended duration. The initial two phases of this

stage would occur during the period of medieval church

existence. Initially, the construction of a new sacristy may

have been undertaken in front of the eastern wing of the me-

dieval monastery (circa 1678). In the subterranean level of

the structure, there was a cellar that functioned as a storage

space for items associated with the monastery garden. Sub-

sequent transformations would lead to the creation of a crypt

with a widened entrance and the installation of vaults (be-

tween approximately 1680 and approximately 1728). It is

con ceivable that it could temporarily assume the role of the

bu rial function, even prior to the construction of the crypts

of the Baroque church. Consequently, the demolition of the

cloister would have been necessary. During the construction

of the transept of the new church, the only changes made to

the crypts were the reconstruction and thickening of the east-

ern and southern walls of crypt A (around 1730). The western

side of the crypt was enlarged at some point around 1738.

Undoubtedly, the presented research will require conti-

nuation and further interpretation. It should determine to

what extent the second version is realistic.

Translated by

Michał Kwasek

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12 Aleksander Piwek, Michał Kwasek

Streszczenie

Dzieje krypty w skrzydle wschodnim klasztoru pocysterskiego w Krzeszowie

W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań architektonicznych dotyczących rozpoznanych podziemi krzeszowskiego zespołu zakonnego.

Przedmiotem badań jest krypta znajdująca się w północnej części skrzydła wschodniego należącego do dawnego cysterskiego założenia klasztornego,

który dotąd nie został dostatecznie rozpoznany. Krypta ta ma spośród wszystkich największe znaczenie dla poznania historii budowy klasztoru. Na pod-

stawie znajdujących się w niej śladów ustalono kilka etapów i faz obejmujących okres między XIV a XXI w. Pierwszy etap odnosi się do czasu, kiedy

w miejscu krypty wzniesiono na poziomie parteru pomieszczenia, które mogły być średniowiecznymi kapitularzem oraz zakrystią. W czasie budowy

nowego kościoła wymurowano część wschodnią zachowanej dotąd krypty z okrągłą klatką schodową (ok. 1730 r.). W ciągu kilku następnych lat wprowa-

dzano w niej zmiany budowlane, funkcjonalne i komunikacyjne. Ostatnia z nich (ok. 1738 r.) łączyła się z powstaniem zachodniej części obecnej krypty

i powiązaniem jej z kryptą transeptową. Jej budowa była konieczna, aby stworzyć w podziemiach jeden zespół dostępny z zewnątrz.

Słowa kluczowe: cystersi, klasztor, badania architektoniczne, krypta, Krzeszów