The splendid Neo-Gothic building known as the Collegium Novum or New College, was built in the late 19th century, opened in 1887 during the period when Poland became part of the Austrian Empire. Currently the main building on the college campus, it was erected by Feliks Ksiezarski. The university’s administrative offices, including those of the Rector and Deans were locate in this building. Henry and I made a thorough tour of this building during lunch hours, while all the students were dining and the lecture halls were vacant. An impressive stairway, its ceilings of gothic vaulting  lead upward to hallways, each landing framed by thick, stone-carved galleries. The most impressive room was a lecture hall containing a blue-painted ceiling, beamed and coffered. Large portraits of professors wearing their ermine-collared red velvet robes surrounded the room, these installed in heavy gilt frames on the soaring red walls above black and gold wainscoting. 

PHOTOS: Top Three: 1. The Collegium Novum, 2. View of the gated gothic portico of the Collegium Novum. Middle Two: 1. Detail: The Gothic architecture of the Collegium Novum. 2. View of the interior stairways and galleries inside the Collegium Novum.  Bottom Three: 1. Heavy wooden doors with deep carvings and gilt detailing lead to stairways inside the building. 2. Exterior of the main lecture hall, its Neo-Gothic doorway surrounded by arches and stone. 3. Interior view of the main lecture hall where portraits of Rectors and Deans of the college are installed beneath the coffered beam ceiling.

JOURDAN ARPELLE-ZIEGLER                                        BACK TO MAP  PAGE