We begin our walk with a visit to the Archaeological Reserve “Kalisz Stronghold of the Piasts”. In the early Middle Ages, the center of the oldest city in Poland - Kalisz was located about 1.5 km south of the main square, in the present district of Kalisz - Zawodzie. There was a settlement there, which in the period from the 9th to the 13th century formed the oldest heart of Kalisz. The stronghold was located among the floodplains of the Prosna River, which naturally helped make the village more easily defensible. Currently, the site is home to an archeological reserve, where you can learn about the relics of the early medieval castle, get a glimpse of the daily lives of Slavs of the Middle Ages, as well as take part in numerous open-air events held on the stronghold’s grounds, where, among other things, you can learn about the customs of our ancestors. Cyclical events held on the site include June's “Archeological Fair” and August's “Piast Feast.”

 

Afterwards you can walk along the Prosna River to reach the buildings of the church of the Franciscan Order, which we will find right past the Trybunalski Bridge. The Church of St. Stanislaus the Martyr Bishop was erected in 1257-1288, funded by Prince Bolesław the Pious and his wife Jolanta (Jolenta). The church was built in the Gothic style and rebuilt several times over the years, due to fires that destroyed the city. Especially severe were those of 1537 and 1559, which consumed the temple to such an extent that the nave stood without a roof for more than sixty years. The church was reconstructed in 1632, and the work was directed by Albin Fontana, a citizen of Kalisz from a well-known Italian family of architects. In the three-nave temple, attention is drawn to the beautiful stuccowork highlighting the line of Gothic ribs in the chancel. The vaults, column heads and arches are decorated with angel heads, eagles, coat of arms shields and rich floral motifs. The whole structure follows the Renaissance tradition, which art historians have described as the Kalisz-Lublin style. Also noteworthy are a beautiful pulpit in the shape of Peter's boat from 1862 and the Gothic Passion Chapel, rebuilt in 1632. In front of the central altar in the right nave lie in a silver coffin the relics of Jolanta, proclaimed blessed in 1827 and considered the patron saint of Greater Poland since 1880.

 

Then you can follow Sukiennicza Street up until the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sanctuary of St. Joseph) comes into view.  The church is believed to have been built in the late 13th century. At first it was a wooden church, on the site of which a late Gothic temple was erected in 1353 founded by the Archbishop of Gniezno Jarosław Bogoria Skotnicki. The church existed in its original form until 1783, at which time a disastrous accident occurred during demolition work of the bishops' palace adjacent to the temple. The church was rebuilt in 1790, and in 1798 the former collegiate church was elevated to the rank of a Minor Basilica by Pope Paul VI. It is a late Baroque temple with a Gothic chancel and sacristy, three-nave with a quadrilateral tower located in the facade. The classicist main altar presents a copy of the Gothic painting of the Virgin Mary “Madonna Ab Igne” from 1424 (the original can be seen in the Treasury). On the extension of the right nave is the Chapel of the Holy Family. The painting presented in it in 1770 was declared miraculous by the Primate of Poland. The image of St. Joseph, located in the church, was the first in the world to receive papal crowns in 1796. The basilica is one of the world's five centers of worship of St. Joseph. Among the most valuable relics of the temple are a Gothic chalice donated by Casimir the Great, a Romanesque paten donated by Mieszko III to the Abbey of Ląd, a painting of the Virgin Mary “of the fire” from 1424, which is considered one of the most interesting relics of Gothic painting in Poland. Among the most impressive works is a late Gothic polyptych from the workshop of the “Master of Gościszowice”.

 

 Right behind the Basilica stands the „Dorotka” tower – the last one still defending Kalisz. Semi-circular, made of bricks on a stone foundation and covered with a semi-conical roof. In the 15th century towers of the city walls were rebuilt into the shape just like „Dorotka’s”. There are many legends connected with the name, one of which tells the story of the unfortunate Dorotka - the daughter of the leader of Kalisz and the poor shoemaker who fell in love with her. The enraged mayor probably ordered his daughter to be locked in a tower and that's where its name came from. Another legend says that girls were locked in this tower for indecent conduct. These maidens were usually called “Dorotkas”. Currently the tower is home to the Center of Fables and Legends of Kalisz and of the City’s Founding,

 

Passing the park fountain you will reach the Jan Paweł II square. Information boards can be spotted there. In this place there are fragments of the foundations of the Casimir Castle. The Kalisz castle was erected in stages, and the completion of its construction was in the time of Casimir the Great. It was a four-winged building on a square plan with a side length of about 46 meters, built of stone and brick, probably housing 45 rooms. Kalisz Castle was one of the favorite residences of King Władysław Jagiełło, who enjoyed spending Easter here. Unfortunately, fires contributed to the castle's demise, and its ruins were sold by the Prussian authorities as building material. On the information boards you will find a lot of interesting information about the history of the castle and the city's fortifications.

 

Continuing dwon Zamkowa Street and turning into Kanonicka Street, you can find the Cathedral Parish of St. Nicholas. This church is closely associated with the period of Kalisz's founding, as it was erected in the 13th century from the foundation of Prince Boleslaw the Pious. Between 1358 and 1810, the church was administered by Canons Regular of the Lateran  brought to Kalisz by Casimir the Great. In 1448, a brick monastery building was erected next to the Gothic temple, which housed the parish school. Today it houses the rectory, which is the oldest residential building in Kalisz. Due to fires, the church building was rebuilt. However, it is worth noting the 14th-century portal in the cathedral's facade. The 13th-century Gothic chancel is also among the oldest parts. Heading further towards the Planty and then to the right into Parczewskiego Street, we come across a fragment of the defensive walls. This is the longest fragment of the city walls, which were built during the reign of Casimir the Great. Of the approximately 1600 meters of city walls, about 350 meters remain in fragments.