Collegium Maius

The Collegium Maius (Latin for "Great College") located in Kraków Old Town, Poland, is the Jagiellonian University's oldest building, dating back to the 14th century. It stands at the corner of ulica Jagiellońska (Jagiellon Street) and ulica Świętej Anny (St. Anne Street) near the Main Square of the historic city centre. Collegium Maius is the location of the Jagiellonian University Museum (Polish: Muzeum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego), a registered museum established on the initiative of Prof. Karol Estreicher after meticulous restorations which lasted from 1949 until 1964 bringing the edifice back to its original look from before 1840.^[1]

History

The then 36-year-old first university in Poland, known at the time as Akademia krakowska (English: the Krakow Academy), moved into the building some time in the 14th century after King Władysław II Jagiełło had purchased it as an educational grant with funds bequeathed by his late wife, Queen Jadwiga.

The Collegium Maius was rebuilt in the late 15th century as a late-Gothic structure surrounding a large courtyard bordered with arcades. In 1517 a well was built in the center of the courtyard. Professors lived and worked upstairs, while lectures were held downstairs.

In the 1490s the Collegium Maius counted among its students Nicolaus Copernicus, the Renaissance astronomer and polymath who would revolutionize European ideas about the universe.

Cultural significance

The Collegium Maius Museum features lecture rooms, communal halls, professors’ quarters, a library and a treasury containing rectors' Gothic maces and the Jagiellonian globe. Exhibits also include medieval scientific instruments, globes, paintings, collectibles, furniture, coins and medals.^[1]

Historic interiors and exhibition halls of the Collegium Maius
Stuba Communis (professor's common room) in the Collegium  Collegium Maius Assembly Hall  The Old Library Chamber

See also

• Culture of Kraków

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Collegium Maius in Kraków.

References

• About Collegium Maius at www.krakow-info.com
• Collegium Maius Museum at www3.uj.edu.pl

Jagiellonian University
Buildings	Collegium Maius Collegium Novum Collegium Witkowski
Faculties and other institutions	Faculty of Law and Administration Collegium Medicum Institute of European Studies Jagiellonian Library Botanical Garden

Kraków
Districts	Stare Miasto (I) Grzegórzki (II) Prądnik Czerwony (III) Prądnik Biały (IV) Krowodrza (V) Bronowice (VI) Zwierzyniec (VII) Dębniki (VIII) Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki (IX) Swoszowice (X) Podgórze Duchackie (XI) Podgórze Duchackie (XII) Podgórze (XIII) Czyżyny (XIV) Mistrzejowice (XV) Bieńczyce (XVI) Wzgórza Krzesławickie (XVII) and Nowa Huta (XVIII) Neighborhoods: Wawel Kleparz Kazimierz Bielany
Attractions	Wawel Kazimierz National Museum Sigismund Bell Sukiennice St. Mary's Basilica
Museums	Wawel Castle Czartoryski Museum Dworek Jana Matejki w Krzesławicach Historical Museum of Kraków Manggha Museum of Insurances in Kraków Muzeum Archeologiczne w Krakowie Muzeum Archidiecezjalne w Krakowie Muzeum Czynu Niepodległościowego Muzeum Czynu Zbrojnego Muzeum Etnograficzne im. Seweryna Udzieli w Krakowie Muzeum Geologiczne Instytutu Nauk Geologicznych PAN w Krakowie Muzeum Historii Fotografii w Krakowie Muzeum Inżynierii Miejskiej w Krakowie Muzeum Katedralne im. Jana Pawła II na Wawelu National Museum, Kraków Polish Aviation Museum Sukiennice Museum Armia Krajowa Museum in Kraków
Other	History of Kraków Timeline

Coordinates: 50°03′42″N 19°56′02″E / 50.06167°N 19.93389°E / 50.06167; 19.93389