Jasna Gora in Czestochowa - Station 10 – Service yard

Description

The service yard, beside the main courtyard, is one of the two squares in the monastery. The square is lined with two-colour cubes, forming the emblem of Mary. From here you can go to several places. First of all, we encourage you to visit the Museum of the 600th anniversary of Jasna Gora (01.10.001). The museum was established in 1982, in 600th anniversary of creation of Jasna Gora. The building in which the exhibition is located is the former monastery print shop, which was closed down by the Russians in 1864. Inside are presented the history of worship of the Miraculous Icon, as well as the activities of the Pauline order at Jasna Gora. There are valuable paintings, mostly painted by monks, which are the best way to sense life in a monastery. There are also works presenting the artistic activity of the Pauline in the 17th and 18th centuries. Inside you can also see some of the valuable dresses adorning the Miraculous Icon of Our Lady. The greatest historical value, however, is held by the Foundation documents issued by Prince Władysław of Opole in 1382 and King Wladyslaw Jagiello in 1393. The Museum also has an unique collection of musical instruments of the band of Jasna Górna, existing since the 17th century. Some instruments are still used today during various ceremonies. In the same building on the right there is the father Augustine Kordecki Hall (photo 01.10.002).

Another interesting museum in the courtyard is the Arsenal (photo 01.10.003). This 17th-century building was used to store weapons and ammunitions. In 1813, the arsenal of Jasna Gora was party robbed by the Russians. Since 1969, in the building was presented a collection of weapons, medals, badges from the 17th to the 20th century. Since 2006, when the permanent exhibition was opened in St. Roch Bastion, the Arsenal became a place for temporary exhibitions. Over the entrance there is the original inscription Arsenal (photo 01.10.004), and above it there is an interesting bas-relief presenting a White Eagle sitting on one of the three cannonballs. On the sides there are cannons, ammunition, banners, and drums (photo 01.10.005). From this square is also worth looking at the monastic building (photo 01.10.006). The building in the foreground is a later extension and has a service rule. In its premises there is a medical point and the administration of the monastery. The proper buildings of the monastery begin with the corner tower, which you can see from the service yard (photo 01.10.007). In the monastery buildings there is, open to public, the Knights Hall, with valuable paintings and banners. Precious are also the Library and the Refectory, but because of the rule of the monastery, these places are inaccessible to public. From the north, the service yard is closed by an irregular building standing in the place of the former wells (photo 01.10.008). On the facade there is a plaque with a Latin inscription saying Pobłogosław Panie Źródła (Lord Bless Sources) (photo 01.10.009). Below there are niches for taps decorated with carved shells, from which once thirsty pilgrims could draw water (photo 01.10.010). On the east, in addition to the buildings of the monastery, the square is closed by the previously mentioned building called the Royal Rooms (photo 01.10.011). From the service yard, overtaking the Arsenal building, you can walk toward the Saint John Paul II gate (photo 01.10.012). Outside, the side gate is topped with a papal coat of arms (photo 01.10.013). Below, there is an inscription informing that the gate is devoted to the Holy Father John Paul II, and two emblems. On the left there is the Pogoń, the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (photo 01.10.014), and on the right the image of the crowned White Eagle of the Polish national emblem (photo 01.10.0015). In the passage there is an interesting mosaic with the image of St. Michael the Archangel and two plaques with the text of a prayer dedicated to him (photo 01.10.016).

Through this gate, you can advance in the direction of the Pilgrim’s House and Klasztorna Street, which surrounds Jasna Gora from the west.

We now invite you to go to Jasna Góra bulwarks. Please, head to the Main Courtyard and take the western stairway to enter the St. Barbara bastion.