St. Mary's Church, Torun, Poland Editorial Photo

The post-Franciscan Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Polish: Ko?ció? Wniebowzi?cia Naj?wi?tszej Marii Panny or in short: Ko?ció? Mariacki), erected in the second half of the 14th century, is one of the most outstanding artistic and architectural achievements of sacral architecture in Poland. In the 14th century it was the highest hall church in Central Europe with the naves and aisles 26.8 metre (88 feet) high. The church provided inspiration for the extension of St. Johns’ Church in Toru? and St. Mary’s Church in Gda?sk in the 15th century. According to the Franciscan rule, the church does not have a tower but three rather small ave-bell towers instead. The church and the cloister remained in Franciscan hands up to the Reformation period, i.e. up to 1559.