On display: from 16 April 2025
Curator: Mateusz Sikora
The exhibition, titled “Bolesław the Brave/ from Poznań/ to Power and the Crown,” marks the 1000th anniversary of a pivotal moment in Polish history: the first royal coronation, the death of King Bolesław the Brave, and his burial in Poznań cathedral. It also commemorates the coronation of his son Mieszko II and Mieszko’s wife, Queen Richeza, in the same year.
The exhibition will be presented in two key locations in Poznań: the Old Market Square and Ostrów Tumski - both places closely tied to the legacy of Bolesław the Brave.
The Archaeological Museum will display selected artefacts, while architectural remains and sites linked to the king’s life and reign will be highlighted on Ostrów Tumski, particularly in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Archaeological Reserve Genius Loci.
At the heart of the exhibition is a desire to highlight the depth and significance of the early Piast era and Bolesław’s impact on Poznań. Its decentralised format is designed to guide visitors around the city, encouraging a deeper connection with Poznań as the birthplace and childhood home of Poland’s first king and the place where he was finally laid to rest beside his father, Mieszko I.
Two volumes of the catalogue are available for download below:
Volume I, which explores Bolesław’s path to power and kingship, illustrated through carefully selected artefacts
Volume II, which focuses on archaeological finds from the time of Bolesław the Brave, discovered on the Cathedral Island and in the former stronghold. These finds will be displayed in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Genius Loci Reserve.
