The Basilica Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption is a large Gothic building situated in the Polish city of Włocławek located near to the Vistula River. Construction on the cathedral began in the 1340s, and it was consecrated in 1411. It was still under construction in the 15th and at the beginning of the 16th century, until its completion in 1526. It is one of the greatest treasure troves of funerary art in Poland next to the cathedrals in Gniezno, Poznan and Cracow. The history of the cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption begins during the episcopate of Bishop Maciej of Golancz (1323-1364). He was a canon of Wloclawek, Gniezno, Poznan, Plock, Cracow, and Wroclaw. Maciej was the first initiator and the builder of the cathedral. On 7 May 1329 Teutonic troops captured Wloclawek, and destroyed the borough, concentrating in particular on the bishop’s property. The Teutonic Knights forbade restoring the bishop’s town and the cathedral on pain of death. On 24 August 1330 Maciej of Golancz decided to sign a pact with the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, Werner von Orseln, who allowed him to resume public religious activities. To this end, a small church beyond the city was built as a temporary solution. But Maciej Golanczewski still wanted to build a cathedral, and collected funds and created plans to do so. On 25 March 1340 he consecrated the cornerstone to begin building the new cathedral. During the next 25 years, the construction on the walls of the cathedral was ongoing; Maciej’s nephew - Zbylut (1365-1383) succeeded to the bishopric, and continued building the cathedral. The details of the construction process are uncertain. The first stage, including the presbytery, southern vestry and treasury, were most likely completed under the guidance of Maciej Golanczewski. During Zbylut’s incubency in the diocese the roofs of the lofts and vestry were finished, and the high altar with the figure of the Mother of God was set up.