Ląd Abbey, Cistercian monastery in Ląd, Greater Poland.
Ląd Abbey is a large Cistercian religious complex with a 38-meter elliptical dome decorated with frescoes. The building combines Gothic forms with Baroque elements in the central section of the church.
The monastery was founded in 1145 by Duke Mieszko III and received monks from Altenberg near Cologne who managed the estate until the 16th century. After that period, the complex went through several changes under different owners.
The Chapel of St. James displays medieval wall paintings with heraldic emblems and scenes of daily life that still show the artistic skill of earlier times.
The property now serves as a Salesian seminary and visitors can join guided tours through historical rooms. Plan enough time to explore the different areas of the complex and attend religious services.
In the chapter house stands a ten-sided pillar supporting the three-part stellar vaults from 1360, showing how craftsmen of that time mastered complex geometric shapes. This architectural detail is a quiet testament to their skills and often goes unnoticed.
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