Building sights in Poland
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Dominican Priory
Originally a Gothic complex founded by King Kazimierz III Wielki in 1342, the Dominican Priory was rebuilt in Renaissance style after it was ravaged by fire in 1575. Two historic highlights inside the church are the Chapel of the Firlej Family (1615), containing family members’ tombstones; and the Tyszkiewicz Chapel (1645–59), with impressive Renaissance stuccowork. For an insight into 18th-century Lublin, note the large historical painting, The Fire of Lublin, which depicts the 1719 fire (in the Szaniawski family chapel to your right as you enter the church). The Dominian Basilica was closed by the Russians in 1886; the monks returned just before the outbreak of WWII…
reviewed
-
B
Cathedral of St John the Baptist'
The centrepiece is the mammoth, twin-towered Cathedral of St John the Baptist. This three-aisled Gothic basilica was built between 1244 and 1590. Seriously damaged during WWII – shrapnel scarring is still visible on the exterior walls – it was reconstructed in its previous Gothic form, complete with dragon guttering. The high altar boasts a gold and silver triptych from 1522 attributed to the school of Veit Stoss, and the western portico is a medieval gem. For once you don’t need strong legs to climb the 91m-high tower as there is a lift.
reviewed
-
C
Chapel of the Holy Trinity
At the eastern end of the castle is its most prized asset – the exquisite 14th-century Chapel of the Holy Trinity, featured on many postcards (the photographers must have snuck in a flash and a wide angle lens). The chapel is covered from floor to ceiling with polychrome Russo-Byzantine frescoes. Painted in 1418, only to be later plastered over, they were rediscovered in 1897 and painstakingly restored over a hundred-year period. These are possibly the finest examples of medieval wall paintings in the country, so colour-rich you could lick the paint off the walls.
reviewed
-
D
Cathedral
Next to the tower is the 16th-century cathedral, formerly a Jesuit church. There are many impressive details to behold, including the Baroque trompe l’oeil frescoes (the work of Moravian artist Józef Majer) and the 17th-century altar made from a black Lebanese pear tree. The painting of the Black Madonna is said to have shed tears in 1945, making it a source of much reverence for local devotees. The acoustic vestry (so called for its ability to project whispers) and the treasury behind the chapel are also worth some attention.
reviewed
-
E
Church of Our Lady on the Sand
The main monument on Sand Island (Wyspa Piasek) is the Church of Our Lady on the Sand, a lofty 14th-century building that dominates this tiny islet. Almost all the fittings were destroyed during WWII and the half-dozen old triptychs you see inside have been collected from other Silesian churches. The wonderful Romanesque tympanum in the south aisle is the only remnant of the original 12th-century church that once stood here.
There's a mechanised szopka (Nativity scene) in the first chapel to the right; make a small donation when one of the assistants turns it on.
reviewed
-
F
Holy Cross Church
The Holy Cross Church has witnessed more student demonstrations and tear gas than any other church in Poland. During the Warsaw Rising, it was the site of heavy fighting between the insurgents and the Germans. It was seriously damaged, but some original Baroque altarpieces have survived and adorn its interior. Note the epitaph to Frédéric Chopin on the second pillar on the left-hand side of the nave. It covers an urn containing the composer’s heart, brought from Paris after Chopin’s death and placed here in accordance with his will.
reviewed
-
G
Polish Army Field Cathedral
Ul Długa leads southwest from ul Freta past the Polish Army Field Cathedral, the soldiers’ place of worship. There’s no homage to the glory of war here; inside the main doors, which feature bas-reliefs of major battles fought by Polish forces, is a gruesome crucifix, with heads protruding from solid metal blocks on all sides of a ruined Jesus. Inside there are numerous plaques to fallen Polish soldiers.
reviewed
-
H
Church of Ss Stanislaus, Wenceslas and Dorothy
The massive Gothic affair located just south of the Old Town is the Franciscan Church of SS Stanislaus, Wenceslas and Dorothy, founded in 1351 to commemorate the meeting between Polish King Kazimierz III Wielki (Casimir III the Great) and his Bohemian counterpart, Charles IV, at which they agreed to leave Silesia in Bohemia’s hands. Note the sizable Rococo tomb at the start of the south aisle.
reviewed
-
I
Synagogue
The only synagogue to survive of the 38 that functioned before WWII is in an early 20th-century building, which bears no distinguishing features of a synagogue. It contains a modest exhibition of old photographs, books in Hebrew and ritual objects. Enter the gate from the street and take the door on the right leading upstairs to the 1st-floor synagogue.
reviewed
-
J
Church of St Adalbert
The highlight of the single-nave Gothic Church of St Adalbert is the 18th-century Baroque chapel adjoining the southern transept, with its Rococo alabaster sarcophagus of the Blessed Czesław, founder of the original monastery here. Wrocłavians are devoted to this chapel as it remained unscathed during WWII while the rest of the church was almost demolished.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
St Alexander's Church
As the Royal Way leaves ul Nowy Świat it becomes Al Ujazdowskie, a wide, tree-lined boulevard with many an old mansion now home to embassies of foreign powers. Near its northern section the road passes through Plac Trzech Krzyży (Three Crosses Sq), a square centred on 19th-century St Alexander's Church, which is modelled on the Roman Pantheon.
reviewed
-
L
St Barbara’s Church
The 17th-century St Barbara’s Church is 1km south of the monastery. Its location is believed to have been determined by the spring that emerged here when the Black Madonna needed to be washed after it was vandalised (it’s still bubbling away behind the church). This legend is depicted on the vault of the chapel.
reviewed
-
M
Chapel of Our Lady
In the oldest part of the complex, the Chapel of Our Lady contains the revered Black Madonna. The picture is ceremoniously unveiled at 6am and 1.30pm (2pm Saturday and Sunday) and veiled at noon and 9.20pm (1pm and 9.20pm Saturday and Sunday). Be sure to note the walls displaying votive offerings brought by pilgrims.
reviewed
-
N
Nożyk Synagogue
Nożyk Synagogue, the city’s only synagogue to survive WWII. Built between 1898 and 1902 in neo-Romanesque style, its interior features heavy metal chandeliers and tall vaulted colonnades. It’s still used for religious purposes, and you may catch children reading from the Torah during the day.
reviewed
-
O
Orthodox Church
Rising from behind a clump of trees just off Praga’s main thoroughfare, Al Solidarności, are the five onion-shaped domes of the Orthodox Church. Built in the 1860s in Russo-Byzantine style, its small nave still retains original Byzantine portraits and gold upon gold.
reviewed
-
P
Evangelical Church
The circular dome of the 18th-century Evangelical Church proudly overlooks a busy junction. The dome is in fact the largest in Warsaw, and the church is renowned for its excellent acoustics and is the venue for a variety of musical events.
reviewed
-
Q
Skyscraper
Just east of the Jewish cemetery is the Skyscraper, Poland's first such building when completed in 1934 and considered the best example of functionalism in Poland. The 14-storey, 60m-tall tower was the highest building in the country until 1955.
reviewed
-
R
Church of St Giles
In contrast to the enormous Cathedral of St John the Baptist, the Church of St Giles is barely a cupboard. Built between 1218 and 1230, this is the oldest surviving church in Wrocław, and has an original Romanesque portal.
reviewed
-
S
Church of Ss Vincent and James
The Gothic Church of SS Vincent and James was originally a Romanesque basilica founded in the early 13th century. The largest church in the city, it's now used by the Uniat (Eastern Rite Catholic) faithful.
reviewed
-
T
Church of the Nuns of the Holy Sacrament
The Church of the Nuns of the Holy Sacrament is the most intriguing; the work of prominent architect Tylman van Gameren, it has a fine Baroque exterior and clean white interior.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
U
Carmelite Church
The former Carmelite Churchescaped the ravages of war and, like St Anne’s, has 18th-century fittings, including the high altar designed by Tylman van Gameren.
reviewed
-
V
Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall was built at the end of the 14th century and hasn't changed that much, though some Renaissance additions lent an ornamental touch to the sober Gothic structure.
reviewed
-
W
Old Town Hall
Some of the buildings in the historic quarter surrounding the Rynek have lovely restored façades. At the Rynek's centre is the 1781 neoclassical Old Town Hall .
reviewed
-
X
White Stork Synagogue
The partially restored White Stork Synagogue built in 1829, is a reminder that this city was once home to more than 20,000 Jews.
reviewed
-
Y
Villas
If you wander about Sopot's back streets, you'll find more fine Villas from Sopot's 19th-century heyday as the German resort town Zoppot.
reviewed
