Oliwa Cathedral, Gdansk

Oliwa Cathedral, formally known as the Archcathedral Basilica of the Holy Trinity, is a prominent church in Gdańsk. This magnificent edifice stands out as a three-nave basilica featuring a transept and a multisided closed presbytery, complete with an ambulatory. The cathedral's striking façade is adorned with two slender 46-meter-tall towers with sharply-edged helmets, a Baroque portal from 1688, varied-sized windows, and three cartouches. A notable feature of the cathedral is its bell tower, a characteristic element of Cistercian architecture.

Remarkably, the cathedral is 17.7 meters high, 19 meters wide, and 107 meters long, with the interior spanning 97.6 meters, making it the longest Cistercian church in the world. The cathedral's interior is a treasure trove of art from the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Classical periods, reflecting immense artistic value.

There are 23 altars within the cathedral, each of historical significance and mainly crafted in the Baroque and Rococo styles, with some made of marble. Their iconography reflects the principles of the post-Trent church. The most significant altar is the High Altar from 1688, celebrated as the finest Baroque artwork in Pomerania. Additionally, there is a noteworthy Netherland Renaissance style altar which served as the main altar until 1688. The cathedral's paintings, created by renowned 17th-century artists add to its grandeur.

The interior also houses Rococo chapels dedicated to the Holy Cross and Saint John of Nepomuk, an ambo, tombstones, epitaphs, and the tombs of the Pomeranian Dukes and the Kos family. Additionally, it contains a bishop's crypt, antique chandeliers, canopies, and numerous other antiquities. Of particular note is a feretory depicting Our Lady of Oliwa with the Infant Jesus, a revered object carried during the annual pilgrimage to the Calvary of Wejherowo.