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Royal tomb restored in Poland

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 18.01.2016 12:27
The 16th century sarcophagus of King Stefan Batory, one of Poland's most illustrious monarchs, has been restored and unveiled to the public at Wawel Cathedral in Kraków, southern Poland.
The restored sarcophagus of King Stefan Batory. Conservators Tomasz (L) and Agnieszka Trzos (2L), Director of Wawel Royal Castle Museum Jan Ostrowski (C), Father Zdzisław Sochacki (R). Photo: PAP/Jacek BednarczykThe restored sarcophagus of King Stefan Batory. Conservators Tomasz (L) and Agnieszka Trzos (2L), Director of Wawel Royal Castle Museum Jan Ostrowski (C), Father Zdzisław Sochacki (R). Photo: PAP/Jacek Bednarczyk

The restoration lasted nine months and it was funded by the cathedral.

King Stefan Batory, a Transylvanian by birth and Poland's second elected monarch following the extinction of the Jagiellonian dynasty, reigned from 1576 to 1586.

Decribed by historian Nornman Davies as “Poland's most successful king,” he consolidated the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's policy of upholding religious tolerance, while leading victorious military campaigns against Russia.

The king's sarcophagus was created in Gdańsk and was brought to Kraków in 1588, two years after the king's demise.

Restoration work on the tomb was carried out at the workshop of Tomasz and Agnieszka Trzos, former students of Kraków's Academy of Fine Arts.

Photo:
Photo: PAP/Jacek Bednarczyk

The vast majority of Poland's monarchs were laid to rest in Wawel Cathedral, which endures as a national shrine.

For one month, the restored tomb will be on display in the cathedral's Vasa Chapel. It will then be removed to the crypts. The sarcophagus will still be accessible, but owing to the dimensions of the space, it will not be possible to view the work from all angles.

Seven sarcophagi at the cathedral have been restored since 2008, and eleven more are in line for conservation work over the coming years. (nh/pk)

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