In Frombork Cathedral, a man once shook the medieval world view: in 1497, Nicolaus Copernicus, an astronomer and mathematician, became a canon in the Warmia region, to which Frombork also belongs. Warmia was a region conquered by the Teutonic Order in the 13th century and declared a bishopric. Today, the area is located in north-eastern Poland. Copernicus settled there until he was finally buried in the cathedral in 1543. During his lifetime, he observed the planets and studied ancient writings and mathematical methods. In his major work De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (in English: The Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres), he describes the heliocentric world view, in which the Earth revolves around the Sun. Since at least ancient times, stargazers had thought that the Earth was the centre of the solar system. However, this theory had numerous weaknesses. For example, it could not explain irregularities that occurred during the observation of the stars.
Nicolaus Copernicus was one of the first to refute the ancient theory of the geocentric world view. However, many people found it difficult to accept that the Earth should not be at the centre. Nevertheless, the new theory prevailed and other natural sciences also modernised. That is why this era is even referred to as the Copernican revolution. The cathedral itself was built in the Gothic style and has been a historical monument since 1994. Over the centuries, parts of the church were repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. If you don’t just want to see the cathedral, but also want to learn more about Copernicus, you can visit the Nicolaus Copernicus Museum, which is also located at the cathedral. It not only offers exciting temporary and permanent exhibitions, but also houses a planetarium in the bell tower.
More information: http://muzeumkopernika.pl/
Photo: Frombork Cathedral in Frombork (Frauenburg). Credits: Wikipedia/Holger Weinandt.
