Lublin Cathedral: the evolution of the façade after 1945

·25 February 2026

The Archcathedral of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist in Lublin is the most important temple in the region, serving as the archcathedral church of the Archdiocese of Lublin. Its present appearance is the result of numerous reconstructions and renovations, the last of which took place at the turn of the 1940s and 1950s. At that time, the archcathedral required renovation after the devastating air raids that Lublin suffered during World War II. As a result of these works, the front of the monument underwent the most significant changes.

The Archcathedral in Lublin – Jesuit origins

The origins of the Lublin Cathedral date back to the end of the 16th century, when Jesuits were brought to the city. The church was founded by Bishop Bernard Maciejowski, and construction began in 1586 according to the designs of Jan Maria Bernardoni and Giuseppe Brizi. Work on the temple was completed in 1625. It had a single nave and details referring to the Renaissance aesthetics so characteristic of Lublin. The archcathedral was connected to a college complex located on Jezuicka Street and around today’s Cathedral Square. The entire complex was included within the defensive walls. In 1752, the church was destroyed by fire, after which it was rebuilt in the Baroque style. The interior was then covered with illusionistic frescoes by Józef Meyer, court painter to Augustus III. His work is still admired today.

Loss of function and gradual degradation

After the dissolution of the Jesuit Order in 1773, the complex passed into the hands of the Order of the Holy Trinity. The lack of funds for repairs led to significant neglect of the temple and the former college buildings, which gradually fell into ruin. At the end of the 18th century, the church was even used as a grain warehouse. The turning point came in 1805, with the creation of the Diocese of Lublin and the selection of the former Jesuit church as its cathedral. In the 19th century, the demolition of part of the college began, and the remains were adapted for new functions. In 1821, the famous architect Antonio Corazzi designed a new façade for the temple in the spirit of classicism, with a six-column portico and a balcony. Another reconstruction in 1878 changed the layout of the portico to a four-column one and replaced the balcony with a pediment. These modifications significantly influenced the overall appearance of the Lublin cathedral.

Lublin Cathedral in 1925. Source: NAC – National Digital Archives

Lublin Cathedral – war damage and reconstruction

Soon afterwards, the dark clouds of World War II descended on Lublin and its monuments. As a result of the bombing of the city in 1939, the cathedral lost its portico and the spire of one of its towers, and suffered a number of other damages. The damage also affected the façade, roof, interior and adjacent buildings of the former college. The reconstruction of the temple was not carried out until after 1945, and the main work continued until the early 1950s. It was carried out on the initiative of the then Bishop of Lublin, Stefan Wyszyński. During the works, the lost tower was rebuilt, the damage was repaired, and it was decided to restore the façade to a design closer to Corazzi’s concept.

Correction of the façade and the effect we know today

Post-war reconstruction did not focus on faithfully recreating the appearance of the cathedral before the devastating air raids of 1939. Instead, a stylistic restoration programme was adopted, aimed at removing some of the 19th-century alterations and giving the façade a more uniform, Baroque expression. The remains of the neoclassical portico, considered a foreign element to the original composition, were removed, and the form of the upper part of the façade and the gable was changed, modifying its profile and details. After the reconstruction was completed, the front received a more dignified and coherent appearance, known to us today. It has six columns, a balcony and a wealth of details.

Source: teatrnn.pl, archikatedra.kuria.lublin.pl

The cathedral in 1925 and 2026. Source: NAC – National Digital Archives and Mateusz Markowski/whitemad.pl