The district of Krakow where I live was built right after World War II, but you can find surprisingly old monuments there. Nowa Huta was intended to be an industrial, working-class district. Historical remains (such as sacred wooden architecture or the very old Wanda Mound) are an exciting contrast to the socialist realist buildings and the steel plant that is located nearby. It is where history and modernity meet, and different ideologies clash here. I invite you for a short walk; I will show you a wooden, 16th-century church and a Cistercian abbey built in the 13th century.
These are the areas of the former village of Mogiła, which was incorporated into Krakow 70 years ago. Eight hundred years ago, the Cistercians chose this village for their seat, and they built a large abbey; later, a small church was erected nearby.
Today, only a street separates the abbey and the wooden church. In the photo below, you can see the church's belfry (it is also the entrance gate) on the left, and on the right, the abbey's belfry and the basilic belonging to the monastery.
Let's take a walk around the wooden church first.
The belfry was added in the 18th century. Only the street sounds from behind the fence remind us that we are in the 21st century.
In the old days, cemeteries were right next to the churches. People were buried from the 15th to the 19th century in this courtyard. Now the square is surrounded by wooden Stations of the Cross.
There is a walled abbey across the street.
It is very quiet and peaceful here on a weekday at this time of the year. In summer, especially at weekends, many tourists come here.
You can see the basilica and the monastery building; more buildings are behind them.
The belfry is located in the abbey's garden, closed to the public for most of the year.
The abbey was built in the 13th century, but it was rebuilt many times. Traces of older parts can be found in the courtyard. In the past, even a small river flowed here, driving a nearby mill. The remains of its devices and the miller's house have survived, but they were in ruins until recently. They are currently being renovated and are not available to visitors.
Coming back home, I pass an over 120-year-old villa hidden in the small park; today, it houses a gallery. Old wood-carved elements beautifully finish it.
