St George's Chapel, Wawel Castle, Pre-Romanesque chapel at Wawel Castle, Kraków, Poland
St George's Chapel is a pre-Romanesque place of worship within Wawel Castle featuring a single nave with a rectangular sanctuary facing east. A large underground chamber runs beneath the floor level, creating a two-story structure.
The chapel was first documented in written records in 1243 and built from brick during the reign of King Casimir III the Great. It remained standing until 1804, when Austrian occupation forces demolished it, though its foundations were later revealed by archaeological digs following World War II.
The chapel served as a spiritual center where royal families and castle inhabitants alike gathered for worship and prayer. This shared sacred space made it an important part of daily life within the fortified complex.
Visitors today see only the archaeological remains and foundation stones, as the original structure no longer stands. Information about future reconstruction plans can be found on-site within the castle complex.
Plans exist to fully reconstruct the chapel structure and restore it to its original location within the castle complex. This ambitious project would bring back one of the few lost medieval buildings that once stood within Wawel's fortress walls.
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