The first church, a pre-Romanesque basilica, was built in Poznań in 966,
shortly after Poland adopted Christianity, and the first rulers of Poland
were buried there. In 1034–8 the basilica was destroyed during pagan
uprisings and the campaign of the Czech prince Brzetysław. It was then
completely rebuilt in the Romanesque style. It was remodelled in the Gothic
and Baroque periods, and after suffering war damage was restored to its
earlier Gothic form. Vestiges of the pre-Romanesque and Romanesque churches
can be seen in the crypt.