Konserwatorskie problemy otoczenia Wawelu

Abstract

ISSUES OF RESTORATION OF WAWEL HILL AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

The surroundings of Wawel Hill include a number of historic settlement units whose constructors used the natural landform features: the limestone rock of Wawel Hill, “the Rudawa and Prądnik cone” and the floodplain terraces. In the early Middle Ages the dry “cone” became the site of the settlement called Okół which underwent urban regulations in the 15th century. Chapter houses developed in Kanonicza Street after the fall of the Nova Civitas (in the 15th and the 16th centuries their architectural form was transformed into stately palaces), while the first half of the 17th century witnessed the development of monasteries. The floodplain terraces on the southern side of Wawel Hill evolved into the suburb of Kazimierz – Stradom – and, as time went by, even more monasteries were established in that area. Another settlement unit – Groble – developed in the area of the old river beds of the Vistula and Rudawa rivers, and modern jurydyki* (one of which belonged to the king, while several others belonged to the nobility) were established there. The Planty greenbelt was developed over the period 1818–1822, and boulevards stretching along the River Vistula were built over the period 1907–1912 (the project was never completed). In 1880 a view of Wawel Hill could be admired from the newly built Na Groblach Square. Horrified by the fast development of commercial investments, the enlightened citizens of the city protested: Let us not permit for Wawel Hill to be obscured! (Karol Knaus wrote in his pamphlet in 1893). Today, the development and conservation plans for the area surrounding Wawel Hill should recognize the unique identity of all the historic units. The following aspects should be considered: the present condition and the restoration of monumental architecture and urban dominants (main task: the restoration of the old monastery complex of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and the former St Hedwig’s Church in Stradom), the character of closed urban spaces (further obscuring of the view of Wawel Hill from Na Groblach Square should be prohibited; a new design for the urban development of Dębnicki Market Square is needed), the latest architectural developments and the ways to incorporate them into the area (further commercialisation of the space, e.g. the construction of more buildings of the type of grand hotels, such as the Sheraton and the Radisson, and of a complex of skyscrapers in Ludwinów, and further development of the “Nadwiślan” complex should be stopped); more attention should be paid to the maintenance of greenery (on the boulevards on the Vistula river banks, in Retoryka Street and in the inner space of Na Groblach Square; the continuation of works at Planty); issues of street furniture, road surfaces (the lowering of the level of Kanonicza Street at the foot of Wawel Hill to reach its original level), infrastructure, traffic, parking lots (construction of underground parking lots underneath Powiśle Street, Kossaka Square and Na Groblach Square – in the areas where the density of old settlements was smaller and which are of lesser importance as archaeological sites).

* jurydyka (from Latin iurisdictio) – a village right outside (or, less commonly, an enclave within) a royal city which was independent from the municipal laws and rulers but instead remained under the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastic or secular lord who chartered, founded and owned it.