Treasures from Łowicz

Reliquary crosses, signet rings for sealing letters, a crucifix fashioned into an amulet offering protection from the plague, intricately decorated pins for fastening the pallium and the outstanding ring of Waclaw Leszczynski of the Wieniawa coat of arms, Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland - these are some of the extraordinary artefacts discovered during archaeological excavations in the crypt of the collegiate church in Lowicz, on display at Wawel Royal Castle.

Wawel Royal Castle on the exhibition:

The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nicholas in Lowicz, also known as the “Mazovian Wawel”, is considered one of the most important burial sites of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It is home to the earthly remains of the twelve Archbishops of Gniezno - the Primates of Poland, who had resided in Lowicz since the 14th century.

Although the crypts had been opened on numerous occasions in the past, two of them avoided being looted - most likely because their entrances were not marked on the floor. There, archaeologists discovered a collection of unique artefacts placed in the graves of the highest-ranking church officials. The research was led by Dr Monika Kaminska, an art historian and archaeologist currently leading the Archaeology Department at Wawel Royal Castle, in partnership with bioarchaeologist Lukasz Majchrzak.

The splendour of past Primates

The artefacts on display are exceptionally rare. Many mementoes of prominent church officials in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth did not survive to the present day - they were looted, scattered or melted down. This makes the jewels discovered in the crypt of Lowicz Collegiate Church, put on display for the very first time, all the more significant.

The ring belonging to Primate Waclaw Leszczynski of the Wieniawa coat of arms holds a special place among the items on display - the most valuable artefact discovered in the Lowicz crypt, exceptional both for the quality of its craftsmanship and its documented history. The ring is made of gold, decorated with black enamel coloured with lead-based mineral compounds, and set at its centre is a natural 18-carat sapphire from Burma.

Note: the museum’s own English-language page states the exhibition runs until 28 June 2026, while the Polish listing and detail page both give 30 August 2026. The Polish dates were taken as authoritative for this page pending clarification from the museum.

Tickets, opening hours, and current details are on the Wawel Royal Castle website.

Museum profile: Wawel Royal Castle.