Historic sites

Ostrów Lednicki

Ostrów Lednicki, the largest of the five islands on Lake Lednica, is one of the most important places in Polish history — the probable site of the Baptism of Poland. Under Mieszko I and Bolesław the Brave it was a principal defensive and administrative centre of the young state, and the island holds the oldest palace-and-sacral architectural complex in the country.

Bridges longer than 400 metres

Wooden bridges on piles driven into the lake bed led to the island: a western one 438 metres long and an eastern one 187 metres, built in the winter and spring of 963–964. Nearly 5 metres wide, they formed part of the Poznań–Gniezno route and rank among the largest early-medieval engineering structures in this part of Europe. The origin of some of the roughly 300 weapons recovered from the water even points to Scandinavian warriors in the ducal retinue.

Palace, chapel with baptismal pools, church

The remains of the stronghold occupy the southern part of the island, once ringed by a wooden-and-earth rampart about 500 metres long, now up to 8 metres high (originally possibly 12). Inside survive the ruins of a palace with a chapel-baptistery, complete with baptismal pools, and a free-standing cemetery church — both raised in the times of Mieszko I, before 966. The chapel was built on a Greek-cross plan; its diameter is 11.5 metres.

The end of glory and the excavations

The island's power ended with the raid of the Czech Duke Bretislav I in 1038: the stronghold burned and the bridges were destroyed, and although life on the island revived, it never regained its former rank. Research was initiated in 1843 by Count Edward Raczyński; since 1969 the Museum of the First Piasts has operated here, and on 16 September 1994 the island was added to the list of Monuments of History. Józef Ignacy Kraszewski set his novel "Stara baśń" (An Ancient Tale) on Ostrów Lednicki.

Practical tips

You reach the island by boat from Przysiek — the crossing itself is part of the experience. Pair your visit with the exhibitions of the Museum of the First Piasts; come in season and leave yourself time for a slow walk around the island.