Exhibition "Books Are Our Weapon – 800 Years of the Dominicans in Wroclaw"

The Wroclaw University Library invites you to an exhibition titled “Books Are Our Weapon: 800 Years of the Dominicans in Wroclaw,” which explores the centuries-long presence of the Order of Preachers in the capital of Lower Silesia and the extraordinary role that books have played in their work.

The exhibition traces eight centuries of the history of the Dominicans in Wroclaw, presenting it through surviving manuscripts, early printed books, incunabula, and other artifacts of historical book culture. On exhibition are presented medieval codices, early scholarly treatises, works related to Poland (polonica), antique bindings, inscriptions and ownership marks, as well as engravings depicting monastic buildings that no longer exist.

Among the items in exhibition are exceptional historical artifacts, including a commentary on Aristotle’s Physics featuring a remarkable initial depicting an Ouroboros, a manuscript fragment dating back to the 5th century, and the first printed edition of Euclid’s Elements from 1482. Also noteworthy are 18th-century polonica, which serve as evidence of the presence of Polish-language preaching in Wroclaw.

It is also worth examining the books themselves as objects that, over the centuries, have changed owners and locations. Antique bindings, handwritten inscriptions, and marks of ownership make it possible to trace the history of individual volumes and uncover traces left by their former users.

The exhibition also recounts the history of the Dominican book collection, which was amassed over centuries at the Monastery of St. Adalbert. Following the dissolution of religious orders in 1810, the collection was dispersed, and further losses occurred during the Second World War. Today, the Wroclaw University Library holds 366 manuscripts of Dominican provenance, including more than 300 medieval codices. To date, 163 incunabula and 42 early printed books have also been identified, and research into the origins of additional volumes is still ongoing.

The phrase “Arma nostra sunt libri – Books are our weapons”, which serves as the title, recalls the special significance of the book within the Dominican tradition, as an instrument for study, teaching, and the proclamation of the Word.

We invite you to the Wroclaw University Library. This is a unique opportunity to take a close look at manuscripts and printed works that have survived for centuries, to observe the details of historic bindings and decorations, and to discover a lesser-known part of the history of Wroclaw and its Dominicans.

Special Collections' Reading Room ("Pyramid" exhibition hall, level 3).

Number of participant is limited (max. 15 people per tour).

Participation in the event is free of charge.

The exhibition is open until the end of 2026.
Specific dates can be found in the registration form.

Registration is available via the link:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/CM8AjELJHX?origin=lprLink