Convents in Kraków in the 20 th century

Abstract

Religious orders are clearly noticeable in the geographic space of major cities in Poland. The purpose of the paper is to analyse the location factors for religious orders in Krakow, including the location of the most important houses and their related activity in the city. Religious orders have been present in Krakow since its beginnings. The paper covers convents run by the Roman Catholic Church within the borders of Krakow. The paper is focused on the 20th century when a considerable increase of the number of religious orders and general spatial development of the city was observed. The data for this paper was obtained from church and secular sources, as well as land surveys. In addition, changes in the spatial distribution of religious orders and monastic houses operating in Krakow in the 20th century as well as modifications in their functions were analysed. The largest concentration of monastic houses is Krakow’s historic core. The actual distribution of convents is a result of centuriesold traditions and depends on numerous factors such as the capital city function of Krakow in effect until the end of the 16th century and the rank of religious administration (bishopric). A further increase in the number of monastic houses was also due to the spatial growth of the city and the general development of monastic life. Religious orders were characterised by various endogenous and exogenous functions.