Jasna Gora in Czestochowa - Station 12 - St. Roch Bastion

Description

St. Roch Bastion, also known as Morsztyn bastion from the name of the patronising family, is since 2006 the most visited part of the fortifications of Jasna Gora (photo 01.12.001). After the restoration and the archaeological research, fragments of the fortification of the '30s of the 17th century, which commemorate the attack of the Swedes in 1655, became available to public. In the bastion we can admire a number of well-preserved cannons that defended Jasna Gora against the enemy troops (photo 01.12.002-01.12.006). Inside the bastion, in specially prepared rooms, there are several exposures known as Skarbiec Pamięci Narodu (Treasure of Nation Memory). In the oldest part of the bastion there is the exhibition „Bogurodzica. Splendor Rzeczypospolitej Obojga Narodów” (Mother of God. Splendour of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). The exhibition includes memorabilia created before the 19th century, including the collection of weapons previously kept in Jasna Gora arsenal. Unique are the trophies of war, such as those derived from the Battle of Vienna donated by King Jan III Sobieski. In the centre, placed in showcases, are five maces, the insignia of the authority of the former Polish hetmans and, among others, a sword offered by King Stefan Batory. The second exhibition illustrates the events related to the struggle and martyrdom of Poles in the period between the partitions and the times of the ”Solidarnosc”. You can see the votive offerings of Lech Walesa, the military uniforms of President Ignacy Moscicki and Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły or a quite big collection of Colonel Białkiewicz medals. A separate part tells the story of the Blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko. The whole is managed by the specifically created "Pro Patria St. Roch Bastion Foundation of Jasna Góra".

After seeing the exhibition, we invite you to go to the third bastion, St. Trinity.