The Sacred in the Spatial Arrangements of Chartered Cities in Małopolska in 13th–15th Centuries

Abstract

The sacred space may be analysed in terms of function (parish, monastic and ‘other’ compounds) and origins (pre-incorporation compounds, from compounds from the incorporation and post-incorporation period). The Krakow from the incorporation period of 1257 together with the lower outer settlement – Okół and the suburbs; the sacrum related to the oldest Jewish community occupies a separate space. The sacrum made a considerable contribution to the urban landscape of one of the larger Krakow satellites, i.e. Kazimierz; it was rather modestly demonstrated in Kleparz. Significant differentiation can be observed in the pre-incorporation, during-incorporation period and post-incorporation Sandomierz. Mining towns such as Bochnia, Wieliczka and Olkusz were rather unique. The peregrination of Sącz is another, separate subject: it concerns the pre-incorporation Sącz associated with what later became Podgrodzie, St Kinga’s Sącz (Stary Sącz) and Nowy Sącz. In most small Lesser Poland towns, the sacrum was limited to a parish church compound (founded together with incorporation, sometimes preceding – less often following – incorporation), occasionally to a medicant monastic compound and a hospital (with a chapel).

Keywords

• sacrum
• German law
• spatial arrangements
• sacred space
• church
• Małopolska