Medieval architecture of the Church of St. Hedwig of Silesia in Zielona Góra and transformations to the church between the 14th and 20th centuries

Andrzej Legendziewicz

doi:10.37190/arc190401

Abstract

The article presents the history of the creation and transformation of the parish church (now a co-cathedral) in Zielona Góra from the 2nd half of the 14th century to the beginning of the 20th century. The introduction presents the source and chronicle information as well as the current modest literature. Based on the architectural studies and the analysis of the details, the most important phases of the church’s transformation were separated. The beginnings of the existing building were erected in the 1370s, when a two-span presbytery was built. Presumably, at the beginning of the 15th century, a three-bay, four-nave, aisle body was built. The temple was probably damaged by a fire in 1419. After reconstruction, probably in the 2nd half of the 15th century, on the south side, was erected a Gethsemane Chapel with a gallery, a porch and at the turn of the 15th and 16th century – the Baptist Chapel. After the fire in 1546, the western porch was established, and after another in 1582 – the corps’ vault completed in 1590. The 2nd half of the 17th century brought new windows, and a high Baroque helmet. It fell down in 1776. A Baroque tower with a classicist helmet was rebuilt in stages up to 1832. At the end of the 19th and at the beginning of the 20th century, renovation works were carried out, and at the beginning of the 21st century, renovation works were also carried out, the last stage of which was to preserve the interior of the Gethsemane Chapel.

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