You can't miss St. Mary's Column in Leśnica's pl. Świętojański. It stands in the centre next to ul. Średzka and the main entrance to the Castle. By the end of the year, in pl. Świętojański new development will be made, together with street furniture elements.
'For several years, we were making efforts to renovate the plaza, and we finally made it,' says Stanisław Kibało, former chairman of the Board of the Housing Estate Leśnica. 'It's a kind of the city's gift to Cardinal Joachim Meisner's eightieth birthday.'
Cardinal Joachim Meisner was born in Wroclaw. He is particularly associated with Leśnica (he was born there on 23 December 1933), the home parish and its patroness, St. Hedwig of Silesia. The current Archbishop of Cologne always emphasizes his ties with Wroclaw and the parish of Leśnica, frequently visiting and supporting it. He is also an advocate and patron of Polish-German cooperation. In February this year, Cardinal Meisner celebrated his 80th jubilee birthday in Wroclaw - read more - 80th birthday jubilee of Cardinal Joachim Meisner.
'I know that Cardinal Meisner comes to Wroclaw on November 26 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the message of Polish bishops to German bishops (read more - Cardinal Kominek in Rome [PHOTOS]). So he will have an opportunity to see the renovated pl. Świętojański in Leśnica,' adds Stanislaw Kibało.
Pl. Świętojański and St. Mary's Column in Leśnica, renovation works in October 2015. Photo: Jarek Ratajczak
Source: Encyclopaedia of Wroclaw
Revitalisation of pl. Świętojański in Leśnica
In accordance with the recommendations of the local development plan, the area around the monument was designed as a square using paving stone and accompanying greenery. As part of the revitalization of the area, a complex renovation of St. Mary's column was carried out, according to the conservator's recommendations. Revitalization of the square will be complemented by illumination of the ground around the monument, illuminating and emphasizing the form of St. Mary's column.
'The main idea behind the development of the square is to highlight the statue of St, Mary's, and to create around it a site of cult character, underlining the seriousness and the dominant element of the baroque column. The monument's central location will be highlighted by applying oval surface on the axis of the column,' explains Małgorzata Szafran from the Social Communication Department of the Wroclaw Medical University.
Around the square and oval surrounding of the monument a formed yew and boxwood hedge was designed, intertwined with roses. The main entrance to the square leads from ul. Średzka and will be highlighted by two balls formed from golden yew. Side entrances will also lead to the square from the castle (from the west). The square will also include five stylized granite benches. The rest of the square will be turned into a lawn. The investment is carried out by the City Greenery Board. The cost of the works is approx 186,000 PLN.
