The architecture has features of the Romanesque (remnants of the groin vault, stone supports), Gothic (elongated chancel with a semi-hexagonal termination, buttresses) and Classicist style (façade decoration).

History

The collegiate church in Płock was established in the 12th century and a school functioned therein already towards the end of that century. It is assumed that it has functioned since 1180. Prelate Witalis was entrusted with taking care of the school. At the same time, he was the first teacher of this school known to us. The beginnings of this educational institution are related to the activity of the Benedictines. Probably, it offered education as part of trivium and included teaching grammar, rhetoric and dialectics in Latin.

In the 15th and 16th century the building was completely altered and obtained Gothic features, among others, through adding a tower (mid-15th century). In 1611 the school was taken over by the Jesuits and the college building was erected (1675-1685). Grammar, syntax, philosophy, maths and physics were taught there in Latin. The ongoing reconstruction of the Gothic church was discontinued as a result of the abolition of the Jesuit Order (1773). At that time, the National Education Commission created a sub-department school in the discussed building. Lessons took place in the building of St Michael church adapted to education purposes, and parts of the building were arranged to serve as a hospital supervised by Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul. The author of transformation of the church into a school was Stanisław Zawadzki (1776-1777), while the new, Late Classicist façade costume was designed by Antonio Corazzi (1843). In the early 20th century Władysław Drapiewski covered the chapel walls with paintings. The school functioned without interruptions during the Partition. After regaining independence, it started functioning as a gymnasium, dedicated to the Marshal of the Four-Year Sejm, Stanisław Małachowski. Ever since, the school has been popularly referred to as “Małachowianka.”

During the German occupation, barracks and a military hospital were arranged inside. However, already in 1945 the institution began working again, this time as Stanisław Małachowski High School. Right after the war it became a co-educational institution. The school needed to be expanded, as it admitted more and more teenagers. In the years 1961-1964 a new wing was erected. In 1980 the 800th anniversary of the school was jubilantly celebrated.

Description

The oldest, historic part of the school consists of two wings: a former collegiate church of St Michael with a tower, from the first half of the 13th century, and a former Jesuit college. The L-shaped Jesuit building is linked at an angle with a rectangular body of the former church, terminating in a square tower in the west. In the basement of the current high school we can trace relics of the Romanesque and Gothic periods. Particular attention should be paid to Gothic stairs and ceilings in the tower and a Late Classicist façade with a semi-circular niche and pilasters designed by Antonio Corazzi.

Inside the former college there is an assembly hall where school events take place. It is decorated with recently reconstructed wall paintings and ceiling paintings. In the years 2012-2014 fragments of the remnants of architectural elements representing a historical decor of the assembly hall were unveiled - apse and eastern choir gallery as well as sacred wall paintings covered with plaster in the second half of the 20th century.

The site is accesible to visitors.

Compiled by Bartłomiej Modrzewski, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Warsaw, 13-10-2014

Bibliography

• T. Glinka, M. Kamiński, M. Piasecki, K. Przygoda, A. Walenciak, Mazowsze północne. Przewodnik, Warszawa 1998.
• Małachowianka. Dzieje najstarszej z istniejących polskich szkół - obecnego Liceum Ogólnokształcącego im. Marsz. Stanisława Małachowskiego w Płocku, red. W. Koński, Płock 1995.
• Przewodnik. Płock i okolice, red. K. Strumińska, S. Płuciennik, Płock b.r.
• Z dziejów Szkoły Płockiej zwanej Małachowianką, serwis internetowy szkoły, dostęp: http://malachowianka.plock.org.pl/strona,9/, dostęp: 10 października 2014.