Opis zabytku w języku angielskim przygotowany w ramach XVII Małopolskich Dni Dziedzictwa Kulturowego (2015).

1. Collegium Maius
The origins of the Collegium Maius date back to the 14th century when King Władysław Jagiełło
donated the townhouse at the corner of present day Jagiellońska and św. Anny streets to the
University. The King had purchased it from burgher Piotr Gerharsdorf, and previously it had
belonged to Stefan Pęcherz of Rzeszotary. Since the foundation was by the King himself, the
house was initially called the Royal Collegium, then the Theological Collegium, and finally the
Major Collegium (Latin: Collegium Maius) to distinguish it from the nearby Minor Collegium
which housed liberal arts. The fast-developing University needed more grounds so several other
houses were purchased and, following fires and reconstruction works, were consolidated at the
end of the 15th century to give them a homogenous architectural appearance. Here academic life
flourished over centuries: here professors had their living quarters under the same roof, here
they held debates or taught students in the so-called lectoria.
The times of the greatest development of the University came in the 15th and 16th centuries,
when mathematics and astronomy were foremost subjects taught by such illustrious scholars as
Jan of Głogów [Glogau], Marcin Bylica of Olkusz or Nicolaus Copernicus. With the glorious times
over, at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries the University lost its leading position and the
Collegium Maius gradually fell into dereliction. Hugo Kołłataj introduced a reform whereby the
Academy was renamed to the Main Crown School and the building of the Collegium Maius was
transformed into a library. Ever since the beginning it was managed by eminent scholars:
philologist and linguist Jerzy Samuel Bandtke, philologist and philosopher Józef Muczkowski,
who authored historical studies, or literary and theatrical historian Karol Estreicher, Sr., who
is called the father of Polish bibliography.
After the Third Partition of Poland in 1795, which put reforms to an end, the Main Crown
School was placed under Austrian rule. It seemed that closure was imminent; eventually, it did
not take place but the School underwent Germanisation. In 1817 new statutes were issued and it
was renamed to the Jagiellonian University. In the 1840s the Collegium Maius started to be
converted into a library, and it was rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style. The idea was put forward by
Rev. Jan Schindler, and executed by architect Karol Kremer.
After the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 the University began to develop dynamically
again, and took the central role in Polish cultural and scientific life, also for Poles who came
here from the other partitions. In 1894 three women were admitted as students of pharmacy
for the first time in the University’s history, and in 1913–1914 twenty-five per cent of all
students were female.
The expanding Jagiellonian Library was transferred to the newly erected edifice in Mickiewicza
Avenue in 1940. After the end of World War II, on the initiative of Professor Karol Estreicher,
the Collegium Maius was thoroughly reconstructed and the Neo-Gothic elements were removed
in an attempt to give it back the appearance from before 1840. Restoration works were
completed in 1964, the 600th anniversary of the University.
The Jagiellonian University Collegium Maius Museum was founded by a decision of the
University Senate in 1947. It opened to the public on 6th May 1964.

2. The Malopolska Days of Cultural Heritage
The Malopolska Days of Cultural Heritage are one of the major
annual events that show and promote the cultural diversity of
Malopolska. For two weekends in May, every year, it is possible
to visit, free of charge, over ten selected sites, using materials
prepared especially for that purpose, and to learn about the region’s past and its traditions
by participating in the many accompanying events. The sites selected for the purpose include
little known places or those that are normally out of bounds to the public, often in private
hands.
We make sure that the presentation of the selected sites is accompanied with professional,
attractive and original commentary, which not only describe but also reveal Malopolska’s
history. We choose the most interesting topics connected with the presented sites and construct
the programme of the event for them.
dnidziedzictwa.pl