Mansion of Bishop Erazm Ciołek

ul.Kanonicza ,Kraków http://www.krakow.pl/english/instcbi/18303,inst,12722,1381,instcbi.html

About

The model presents the 17th-century of the buildings of the Mansion of Bishop Erazm Ciołek and the neighbouring townhouses in Kanonicza St. Facing the descriptions in Braille, situated on the frieze of the model from the side of the Mansion's hall, we face the internal courtyard, from which we are separated by the model. The mansion was built in the first years of the 16th century for Erazm Ciołek, the Bishop of Płock, diplomat, and Secretary to King Władysław Jagiellończyk (Ladislaus the Jagiellon), and was not one of the typical Renaissance residences that were at the time built to the order of the rich European townspeople. This was the case as the mansion was not built from scratch, but originated from the merging of two houses that had earlier stood in the street. In the following decades of the 16th century, the later users (Bishop Tomicki and Cardinal Radziwiłł) expanded it by adding the wings surrounding the internal courtyard. Especially imposing is the developed back wing, with a complicated roof topped with a tower. In the 16th century, the Mansion was an imposing stately home combining elements of Gothic with the then innovative Renaissance style in its early years. In the successive centuries, the building was repeatedly reconstructed, and finally devastated in the first half of the 19th century by being turned into military barracks and offices for the Austrian police. Towards the end of the 20th century, the building became property of the National Museum. In 2003–2007, the historical building was refurbished and revived. Today, the renovated mansion houses a branch of the National Museum, where one can visit a collection of Polish painting and sculpture from the 13th to 18th centuries, and the Gallery of Orthodox Church Art; visiting is possible with audio guides. The most precious exhibit is the 15th-century Madonna of Krużlowa, one of the so-called Beautiful Madonnas. A copy of this is a part of the exhibition entitled "Cracow in your hands" which allows blind people to become familiar with many other works of art. Moreover, the museum organises educational workshops for blind and partially sighted children. The museum is open daily (except for Mondays), from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays only till 4 p.m. Admission to the exhibition "Cracow in your hands" is free on Sundays. The premises of the museum are fully adjusted to the needs of the disabled. Mansion of Bishop Erazm Ciołek (mp3)