Radom appears in history for the first time in the early Middle Ages. But the first note on the city comes from an edict of Pope Hadrian IV from the 12th century. It’s generally assumed that the city took its name from Radomir or the tribe of Radomirans. Here, in the valley of the Mleczna River, a castle surrounded by a double rampart and a moat emerged in the 2nd half of the 10th century.

King Casimir Builds New Radom

New Radom emerged in the 14th century when King Casimir the Great decided to strengthen the role of towns in Poland. The town received its civic rights in 1364, based on the Magdeburg law. The city flourished during the reign of the Jagiellonian dynasty. Its location at the crossroads of important routes enabled the city to develop trade and services.

Kings often visited the city, and it served as the location for sessions of the Sejm and other state events. During the Swedish Deluge in the 17th century, the city and the castle were burned down. Only 37 houses and 375 inhabitants survived. During the time of the partitions in the 19th century, Austria and Russia successively held Radom. As an important administrative center, the town gradually developed its industries of leather, metallurgy, and food. A direct road to Warsaw appeared as well as railroad lines to Deblin and Dabrowa Gornicza.

The city returns to Poland

When Poland regained independence in 1918, following World War I, the city returned to Poland and the town’s development accelerated. The city became part of the Central Industrial District, the most modern in Poland, with the building of the State Arms Factory as well as other important investments. During World War II, Radom fell into German hands. These years of war were the worst time for the region – with the extermination of Polish and Jewish inhabitants, deportations to concentration camps, and inhuman cruelty becoming an everyday reality.

The city’s liberation came in 1945, after which it started growing rapidly. The former suburbs urbanized thanks to new housing developments, and the number of residents grew. Cultural life in Radom also flourished, especially in the theater, museums, and local libraries. In the years 1975-1998, Radom was the capital of the voivodship but in 1999 it became part of the Mazovian Voivodship.

Plan your trip to Radom Poland with this complete Radom travel guide!

After the difficult times of transformation, The city is today a place where history meets modernity. Historical tenement houses, churches, and other old buildings sit comfortably among newly built businesses and shopping centers. Together they create an unusual climate for a city. The city has various leisure and sports events, with the modernized sports hall also hosting many feasting and dancing events.

Centre of Culture

The city is a local cultural center, boasting one of the most impressive collections of the works of Jacek Malczewski. He was a famous Polish painter and best-remembered citizen. One should not miss the opportunity to visit the open-air Village Museum (Skansen), set in a scenic location on the southwestern edge of the city, which has precious examples of folk architecture and artifacts from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Radom Old Town Hall

In the Old Town, you can find many reminders of the rich city’s history. Among the most interesting are the church of St. John the Baptist, founded by King Casimir the Great, and the Town Hall and the former burgher’s houses in the market square dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.

The very beautiful Gosling House and Esther`s House, now housing a museum of contemporary art, are worth at least a little of anyone’s time. One of the most precious historical sites of the city is the  Monastery of the Bernardines. Some of the buildings in the city are designed by famous architects, including Enrico Marconi, Antonio Corazzi, and Stefan Szyller.

The Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary is a stunning example of neo-Gothic architecture. The construction of this magnificent church began in 1894 and was completed in 1911. The design was crafted by the renowned architect Józef Pius Dziekoński, who envisioned a grand structure that would serve as a spiritual and cultural landmark for the city.

The cathedral is characterized by its impressive twin towers, which reach a height of 72 meters. The building is designed as a three-nave basilica, a common feature in Gothic architecture. The intricate details of the façade, along with the soaring spires, create a striking silhouette against the skyline of the city.

Interior of the Cathedral

Inside, the cathedral boasts a beautifully restored interior that attracts both worshippers and tourists. The spacious nave is adorned with stunning stained glass windows, which cast colorful light across the pews and altar. The high vaulted ceilings and detailed woodwork add to the sense of grandeur and reverence within the space.

Address: Henryka Sienkiewicza 13

The Bernardine Monastery and Church trace their origins back to the second half of the 15th century. The Bernardine order was brought to Poland by King Casimir IV Jagiellon, and the monastery in Radom was established through the efforts of Starost Dominik Kazanowski. The construction site was designated in 1468 and approved by the Bishop of Kraków the following year.

Architecture

Initially, the church and monastery were constructed from wood. Due to its location outside the town walls, the friary was designed as a defensive structure, surrounded by ramparts. The transition to a brick complex began in the third quarter of the 15th century, with the Bernardines themselves producing the Gothic bricks and lime needed for construction. The chancel and sacristy were the first to be built, followed by the southern wing of the claustrum and the church nave by the end of the 15th century or early 16th century.

Inside the church, visitors can admire the historic high altar, which features the Gothic Passion: Christ crucified, the Virgin Mary, and Saint John the Evangelist. The church also houses two other altars, one in the Rococo style and the other in the Early Baroque style. The walls are adorned with epitaphs and Baroque-Classicist tombstones, adding to the rich historical ambiance of the site.