5. Crown Treasury

duration 50 min.

October 3, 2024, 15:40

Significant objects connected to Poland’s history are displayed in twelve rooms. There are exquisite works in gold and silver, jewelry, textiles, and ornate parade arms and armor. The exhibition occupies the Gothic and Renaissance rooms in the north part and corner of the castle that from t 14th century onward housed the Polish coronation insignia and the crown jewels of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. On view here are priceless objects from the original Crown Treasury, such as the coronation sword Szczerbiec, heirlooms of Polish monarchs that have survived war and pillage, and splendid gold and silver objects created by Western European and Polish goldsmiths. A large collection of weapons, armour, parade saddles, and equestrian equipment dating from the Middle Ages to the 18th century is displayed in the Armoury. As part of exhibition, you can see, among others a unique set of state insignia—painted and embroidered banners, including the great court banner executed for the wedding of King Sigismund II Augustus and Catherine of Austria in 1553—are on view in the first room. The court banner is the oldest and largest preserved object of its kind. In the next two rooms, the golden age of the Commonwealth’s military is illustrated by equestrian equipment and parade weapons from the 16th through the 17th centuries the mantle of the Order of the Holy Spirit, the most precious several dozen silver-gilt parade vessels and several hundred priceless objects ranging from antiquity to the late 18th century. bilia related to the history of Poland of great value and importance are displayed in twelve rooms.