PL24 MC - Visit of Plock

The students follow a guided tour of Plock. The guide shows them different aspects of the city at different times in its history, and learn about this old school which was build on a church. Marshal Stanistaw Matachowskis High School, established in 1180 by the Benedictines as a trivium school is the oldest school in Poland and one of the oldest in Europe. Many distinguished people have attended Matachowianka: among them are Ignacy Moscicki, President of the Second Republic of Poland and Tadeusz Mazowiecki, the first Prime Minister of the Third Republic of Poland. For tourists' needs the museum operates in the underground of the school, with the impressively illuminated teachingmultimedia path, which exhibits the monuments of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque period with the later ones. Fromthe top of newly renowated tower, one can admire the panorama of the city.

City Hall: The middle part of the present city hall was built in 1824 - 1827 in the classical style according to Jakub Kubicki design, well-known architect from Warsaw. A small clock tower was added in the 1830's. The present seat of local authorities replaced the Gothic building, situated almost in the middle of the Old Market Square, which was pulled down in 1817.

St. Bartholomew Parish Church: The beginning of the Gothic church dates back to 1356 when Bishop Klemens together with King Kazimierz Wielki gave an order to bulld a new temple. The church entrance was initially facing the Vistula River. In 1723 after a landslide of the Vistula slope the church was rebuilt. At the end of the 19th century a belfry was raised next to the temple.

Cathedral Basilica: dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Originally Romanesque the basilica waserected on the initiative of Bishop Alexander of Malonne, consecrated in 1144. After the conflaqration in 1530 the temple was raised again in the Renaissance style by Italian architect, among others Jan Cini of Siena and Jan Baptistof Venice. In 1901-1903 the cathedral reconstruction was supervised by Stefan Szyller... During the World War Il basilica was partly destroyed and turned into the storehouse. The temple hosts the replica of Plock Door from the 12th century and tombs of Polish rulers and Mazovian dukes. In 1991 Pope John Paul II prayed there.

The French students listen respectfully to the explanations prepared by their Polish correspondents. They learn to preserve the cultural heritage and they know the history of the city where their correspondents live.