Christianization with cross and sword
The Balts adopted Christianity as the last nation in Europe. Due to this the pagan tradition survived much longer than in other countries. The territory occupied by Balts and Finno-Ugrians represented „another Holy Land“ for the medieval Christian Europe; a large number of martyrs and crusades were bound for it to convert pagans to the right faith. Bohemian saints and rulers took an important part in the Christianisation of the Baltics (St. Adalbert, Přemysl Otakar II and Charles IV). One of the highlights of the exhibition is the replica of one of the most valuable Romanesque artistic monuments – the bronze gate of the cathedral in Gniezno from the 12th century featuring a medieval „comic“ of the martyrdom of St. Adalbert. Interesting are also unique archaeological finds from Adalbert´s native place – Libice.
