Bydgoszcz Cathedral

Bydgoszcz Cathedral is the oldest building in the city, and its history is closely intertwined with the city's fortunes. Known as the Parish Church, a name still used by Bydgoszcz residents today, it was built between 1466 and 1502. Its patrons, St. Nicholas and St. Martin, were chosen because their protection over trade and various crafts best suited the city's economic aspirations. The main entrance to the church is adorned with Renaissance oak doors, decorated with coats of arms and the initials of Bydgoszcz's guilds and townspeople. The interior is stunning with the rich colors of its beautiful, modernist polychrome. The cathedral retains a wealth of mainly 18th-century Rococo furnishings. However, its most precious treasure is the painting of the Madonna with a Rose, located in the main altar. Known officially as Our Lady of Beautiful Love, it is held in special religious reverence. An interesting detail is the small eagle with a crown embossed in metal high on a gutter box. During the occupation, it was overlooked by the Germans. Young Poles would secretly gather here to honor the national emblem. In 2018, during conservation work, a real treasure was discovered in the cathedral. Under the church floor, 486 gold coins (the oldest dating back to the late 15th and early 16th centuries) and numerous valuables were found. It remains a mystery who hid the treasure and why it was never retrieved. You can see the Bydgoszcz Treasure on display at the European Money Center (ul. Mennica 4).