The county seat is located approx. 50 km north-east of Poznań, on the road to Toruń.
The Franciscans were brought to Gniezno in 1259 by Duke Boleslaus the Pious and his wife Blessed Jolenta. Work on the church and monastery began c. 1275. Duke Przemysł II soon began building the Poor Clare convent in which Duchess Jolenta was to seek refuge. The single-nave Poor Clare church (oratory) was probably ready in 1283. Further work on the Franciscan church only proceeded later and its construction was probably completed c. 1295. The churches and the monastery buildings burned down in 1613. Many of their stylistic features were lost when they were rebuilt, and especially after being thoroughly renovated in the late 18th century. The Prussian authorities closed the Franciscan monastery in 1836 and the Poor Clare convent a year later. The Franciscan monastery was occupied by the army and the Poor Clare house was demolished in the 1860s or 1870s. The Franciscans returned to their former residence in 1928. They carried out conservation work between 1930 and 1932, partially restoring it to its Gothic form and joining the church to the former Poor Clare oratory.
The Conventual Franciscan monastery in Gniezno now belongs to St. Maximilian Kolbe Province in Gdańsk. The monastery church became the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Consolation of Gniezno in 1998.
The early-Gothic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Anthony is a single-nave building with an elongated presbytery. The former Poor Clare oratory is now the north aisle. The baroque décor of the façade dates from the end of the 18th century. By contrast, the late-Gothic tower of the former oratory was erected in the 15th century. The presbytery has an early-Gothic rib groin vault. The pseudo-Gothic vault in the nave was installed in 1930-1932, whereas the aisle has a barrel-groin vault from c. 1614. The interior furnishing is mainly late 18th-century baroque and rococo. The painting of Our Lady of Consolation in the high altar dates from the beginning of the 17th century and is revered by the faithful. Pope John Paul II crowned the painting with papal crowns in 1997. The altar in the north aisle has a boxed reliquary of Blessed Jolenta made by Gabriel Hermeling of Cologne prior to 1892.
The 18th-century baroque monastery, partly erected on Gothic foundations, adjoins the presbytery from the north and its four wings enclose a small patio.
The Franciscans were founded by St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Honorius III approved the Rule of the Order in 1223. This Rule mandated a life of humility and poverty in accordance with the principles of the gospels. The Franciscans, as opposed to previous orders, operated in towns and cities and supported themselves with alms. The Franciscans first came to Poland in 1227. After further reformations and divisions, the present Order of Friars Minor (OFM) are given different names in Poland, depending on provenance. The Franciscans, Bernardines and Reformers all wear brown habits, the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals (OFM Conv) wear black habits and the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins (OFM Cap) wear brown habits with characteristic elongated hoods.
Adress:
ul. Franciszkańska 12
62-200 Gniezno
Tel. +48 61 426 15 56
