Franciszkanie

The Gothic cloister, dating back to the 15th century, is fairly large. During the day, it is illuminated by pointed windows arranged in square bindings. These windows embrace the courtyard made up of four wings from which the northern one was transformed into an oratory and over time was named the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows. As a matter of fact, the cloister structure was made to match the other monastery’s spaces belonging to friars in a single construction. Since 1455 the cloister was the site of the Eucharistic processions. In the 16th century, it was redone in the Baroque style. After the fire caused by the Swedish siege dated 1655, the complex was completely restored without the addition of a relevant architectural change. However, the medieval polychrome was whitewashed because considered incompatible with the epoch style. At the time of the partition of Poland, the cloister risked falling into disrepair because the Austrian militaries, occupying this place with other neighbouring chapels, had made it the tobacco deposit. As a result, the floor collapsed while the tombs, epitaphs and the gallery of bishops’ portraits were irreparably destroyed. In 1850, the city of Cracow suffered a serious fire from which the friary’s cloister was miraculously saved; currently it was completely restored in 1905-1912 and recently renovated in 2017-2019.