Kaplica św. Jacka w Oświęcimiu, Gothic chapel in Oświęcim, Poland
The Kaplica św. Jacka is a Gothic chapel in Oświęcim with a rectangular floor plan divided into two bays and constructed from brick. Inside, cross-ribbed vaulting with stone ribs creates a distinctive spatial structure that emphasizes vertical lines.
The chapel was founded in 1304 as a chapter house of a Dominican monastery, likely established through the initiative of Duke Mieszko I of Cieszyn. Over time it evolved into an independent religious space with new artistic elements added, including 19th-century stained glass.
The stained glass windows from 1896 depicting Saint Hyacinth fill the interior with colored light and reflect the religious devotion of the period. A black marble epitaph from 1656 commemorates Mikołaj Mstowski and reveals how the space honored prominent local figures.
Entry to the chapel is free and visitors are welcome to take photographs inside. The nearby parking area requires a fee, but this does not affect access to the chapel itself.
A crypt beneath the chapel holds the burial sites of Oświęcim princes, including Duke Władysław I and his wife Eufrozyna. Most visitors overlook this hidden royal burial ground located directly below the floor.
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