Königliche Kapelle
King's Chapell (Königliche Kapelle) dedicated to St. John, the Holy Spirit and St. Andrew stands at Holy Spirit street (Heilige-Geist-Gasse). The building is beautiful example of Italian baroque and stands bold against Gothic and Mannierist neighbourhood. Built on the plan of rectangular Greek cross, its longer arms form the main axis. The chapel is capped with a dome supported on four pillars. Two houses flank the chapel from both sides.
King's chapel at the beginning of 20th century.
) | King's chapel seen from Holy Spirit street. |
) | Part of facade and the dome. |
) | Facade of King's chapel. |
) | Dome over the chapel. |
In December 1677 Polish King John III Sobieski decided to build a catholic chapel on the land belonging to the presbitery of St. Mary church. Andrzej Olszowski, Primate of Poland who had accompanied the king to Danzig in August 1677 supported him in his plans in an unexpected way. On return from Danzig the primate died, in his will, he donated 80 thousand zlotys to the construction of the chapel. King John added another 20 thousand out of his own funds.
The city architect, Bartel Ranisch, was put in charge of the construction works, the design was probably made by Dutch architekt, who lived and worked in Poland - Tylman of Gameren. The author of sculptural decorations was probably Andreas Schlüter, father of German Baroque.
) | Sketch of the chapel's project by Bartel Ranish from 1677. |
The chapel was completed in May 1681 and consecrated in January 1685. Works on the interior began in the 40s of the 18th century.
Interior of King's chapel at the beginning of 20th century.
) |
) |
May 1945 struggles the building survived in quite good condition but the interior was completely burnt out. The only surviving indication of pre/war decoration is the 19th century mural inside the dome.
King's chapel and St. Mary church in summer 1945.
) |
) |