Identification Problem - Chapel in Poland

[gardenmoma]

Good Morning!

I would appreciate it if some of you, especially Polish natives, would wander over to the "Photo Gallery" and take a look at my photo titled "Chapel Identification." I'd like to know the name of the town and perhaps the significance of the chapel...if indeed it is a chapel.

There was a sign board next to it, but I do no read Polish and for some reason I did not take a picture of this board. I usually do that when I have a question.

Thanks so much

[kaima]

Hopefully htis will start a conversation. First off, you would make it much easier for people to look and generate comments if you included an URL we can simply click on. I am a regular here but rarely go to the picture posting area, so I ahd to search it out. That alone will stop a lot of people and potential answers.

[gardenmoma]

Kaima...

Good point...I will do that.

I never really know what technique people like the best

Thanks...GM

[nancy]

PICTURE OF CHAPEL is here

[gardenmoma]

Nancy,

Thanks...that should work rather than my copying the whole article...I did not know we could do a link between one portion of a thread and another. I learn something new every day...good way to stay "young-at-heart"

[forza]

GM,
I've got two maps of the area from the web. Maybe they would remind you the name of a nearby town.
There is quite plenty of resources on Szlak Orlich Gniazd (Eagles nests route) on the web. The chapel (kapliczka) however doesn't seem to be one of the main attractions on that route. There could be dozens like them along that 160 km route. Do you think you could narrow down the area somehow?

[forza]

(...) I understand ...the chapel is IN Ogrodzieniec town itself.
There are several chapels in that town. One has a figure of St. Mary inside and bas relief of St. Mary with child on the outside. Inside the chapel there is Swedish cannonball that went into the chapel in 17th century and didn't cause any damage.
From:
www.ogrodzieniec.pl/index1.php?go=koscioly_i_sanktuaria&zid=262

[nancy]

GM,

Go back and take a photo of that sign ...

;D

[gardenmoma]

Good Lord willing and a stable economy...perhaps I will have a chance

[kaima]

Gm, Thanks for takingmy posting the right way. I was just starting and the cousins called on Skype, so I dropped the comment VERY quickly.

I wanted tos ay that such shrines are common and give a chance to stop and pray for the wayfarer or just to silently say a prayer as you walk past. It is common enough to see people crossing themselves as they pass. My understanding is the intent is just that - to remind people to pray and give them the atmosphere as well.

In Germany I have also seen the Stations of the Cross along a woodland path in Bavaria.

Is this the understanding others have as well?

Kai
PS with the way Poles and Slovaks drive, they need all thhe good influence they can get!

[kaima]

This brings up another good point as well - the tradition dates back to the Middle Ages or more. One of the purposes of sacred art (and the chapels that displayed them) was to give the illiterate people a pictorial history of biblical stories. Remember that literacy was not for peasant and for very few nobles - it was almost an unmanly activity fit perhaps for monks and other lesser people worthy only of serving the ruling class.

The result of all this, I project into today, is the preponderance of pictograms for many road signs in Europe where in the US we have a lot of written traffic signs. Yes, many languages are also a factor, but I feel the root goes back to the sacred art and story telling.

I would like to hear a few European opinions on that idea!

Kai
PS, OK, a few American opinions as well.

[leslie]

Kai
I asked this question of the UK Highways Authority some time ago and the answer was that there is a large percentage of road accidents caused by people slowing down abruptly to read the word on a sign. A Pictogram, Graphic, Image or what have you, of the simplest but clearest nature, can take a nanosecond to 'read' = no problem to other road users. I wish there were more. OK, yes, the question of foreign tourists comes in as another good reason.
Leslie

[varsovian]

Novelties always surprise, sometimes amuse.
The one that made me laugh in the States was "Don't Walk"
Think about it ...

... crawl, hop, skip?

[varsovian]

Hah!
I just remembered "Yield" (Stop/Give Way sign)

What? Hand over your sword? That's just too funny ...!

[forza]

We had a funny one in Szczecin last summer. It was warning about people urinating at your doorway. It turned out to be some artist idea....
road sign in Szczecin

The mystery of that chapel is solved. It IS the one with a Swedish cannonball legend. The chapel is in Podzamcze village in Ogrodzieniec municipality. It was built of the same stone as Ogrodzieniec castle, it has a sculpture of St. Mary inside which used to be in the castle chapel initially.
I took a short cut and emailed Ogrodzieniec municipality information center and they were kind enough there to respond fast, within hours positively identifying the chapel as one of their own.