The most beautiful religious buildings Silesia

Located on Tumski Island, it stands on the site of the former Romanesque cathedral, built around the year 1000, destroyed by the Bohemian Bratoslav around 1035 and rebuilt in the ^12th century. The present ^13th-century building was badly damaged during the Second World War, but has since been superbly rebuilt. A typical Wroclaw feature, colorful Baroque chapels have been added to the Gothic body. You can climb to the top of the north tower and enjoy the beautiful panorama.

Its classical frontal architecture and stucco facade are the signature of the Jesuits who founded it. In keeping with their credo, the interior is absolutely grandiose and contrasts with the façade: it is one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Central Europe, made of pomp, marble, swirling woodwork and missionary frescoes. It was built at the end of the ^16th century as a university church on the site of the former Piast castle.

Located in a complex that includes a church, a seventeenth-century bell tower and a cemetery, this small chapel is entirely lined with 3,000 skulls and countless human bones, which belonged to victims of the Seven Years' War and the epidemics of the second half of the eighteenth century. There are another 21,000 in the chapel's crypts. It was Wacław Tomaszek, that he collected these bones, between 1776 and 1804, helped by the gravedigger J. Langer. His skull and that of the gravedigger are of course there, according to their last wishes.

Built on a small island in the heart of Wrocław, this ^14th-century church was originally one of the country's oldest Gothic churches in the German period. Its appearance shows architectural trial and error, as well as a plan halfway between the Romanesque style and the Gothic canons. Serving as HQ for the German army desperately trying to resist the Soviet advance on the Reich border, it was destroyed before being rebuilt after the war.

Located just across the Tumski Bridge, which overlooks the University Island on the Oder River, this church welcomes you on your way to the cathedral. Although it is visible, you will not immediately find the entrance to this small, beautiful but very soberly decorated church, dating from the 15th century. In fact, you have to pass by the building located just nearby, the Orphanotrophaeum, a former orphanage for children of the nobility, built in the early 18th century.

The Peace Temple in Świdnica, built by Silesian Protestants in the 17th century, is the only timber-framed building of its kind in the world. Built after the Thirty Years' War, this church bears witness to a quest for religious freedom and adopts canons of the Catholic Church. For these reasons, it is included in the Unesco World Heritage List. It is of baroque style, richly decorated and decorated with wall paintings of the eighteenth century.

This imposing basilica was built in Gothic style in the ^14th century. It is accompanied by a legend concerning the small bridge linking the two towers of the church at the very top. Sometimes, on this bridge, walk the spirits of women who have never married: as punishment, their souls wander and are condemned to clean on the bridge for eternity! It's as much a visit as a photo opportunity. One of the towers is open to the public, and takes 10 minutes to climb.

This beautiful edifice can be seen from afar thanks to its roof made of a multitude of colorful slates. Completely ravaged by fire in 1976, this huge church has recently been restored. The interior is very bright, with superb modern stained glass windows and beautiful Baroque, Renaissance and Mannerist epitaphs, as well as imposing ogives and some rich ornamentation. As a bonus, you'll find a beautiful view of the city's central square, as well as the suburbs and the Oder River from its 83m-high bell tower.

This old Lutheran temple with its characteristic architecture, which is quite rare in the region, is located in a park that was practically abandoned until recently, to the east of the city. It dates from the beginning of the 17th century and was built on the model of St. Catherine's Church in Stockholm (Sweden). Converted into a Catholic church after 1945 and the departure of the Germans, the organ is its centerpiece and concerts are sometimes given there. Visits with audioguide.

This neoclassical synagogue, built in the early ^19th century, survived the Nazis despite being plundered. A small Jewish community organizes concerts of Kleshmer and Yiddish music. A paper kippah must be worn on the head during concerts. For more information, visit the synagogue's facebook page. The street and its neighbors, once the city's Jewish quarter, contain some very fine Art Nouveau and neoclassical buildings.

Built in the ^13th century, this church is as tall as it is long, and has a very disconcerting slender yet squat appearance. This is actually a consequence of its particular architecture, as it consists of two churches superimposed one on top of the other. The lower church is dedicated to St. Bartholomew, patron saint of the Piast dynasty, while the other is dedicated to the Holy Cross. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings on Ostrów Tumski.

This Lutheran church, originally from the Norwegian town of Vang, was built in the ^12th century. In 1844, it was purchased by King Frederick William IV of Prussia as a gift to the Karpacz Lutheran community, and installed here after being dismantled and reassembled piece by piece. Built without a single nail, it's a pearl of Scandinavian architecture, its decoration inspired by Viking ships. Numerous concerts are held here.

Built at the end of the 17th century in the purest Baroque style, this church has especially fine interior paintings by Michael Willmann (whose self-portrait can be seen on the right), some of which are extremely avant-garde, heralding Impressionism almost two centuries early. It is located next to the sanctuary of Notre Dame. The towers that adorn the south façade collapsed and were never rebuilt.

Built in the first half of the 18th century, this church has retained its original interior without any changes. The beautiful frescoes were painted by George Wilhelm, the grandson of Michael Willmann. This church, also called the Baroque pearl of Silesia, has a superb organ. It is one of the masterpieces of Baroque architecture in Europe. The portal and facade face west with two copper-clad towers 68 m high, richly decorated by the Prague artist Ferdinand Brokoff.

This powerful construction symbolizes the faith and the defensive vocation of the city. Everything was built to resist sieges, first in a Gothic style in the 14th century, then redesigned during the Renaissance. There is even a well inside that served as a water supply for the population to last the time of a siege. It still manages to give off a beautiful harmony thanks to the addition of Renaissance decorations on top of its slender walls.

Located just opposite the cathedral on the north side (to the left of the main entrance), this tiny, unassuming Romanesque church is easy to overlook. That's probably why it's so seldom visited. And yet it's a veritable jewel of the town's architectural heritage. Built in 1230, it is the only church to have survived the Tatar invasions and the pagan revolt that sacked its sisters. To this day, it's the city's oldest church: it deserves to be better known!

Located south of the Rynek, this church dates from the first half of the 14th century, but has been modified several times and was even an evangelical temple. The beautiful Gothic St. Anne's Chapel houses the mausoleum of the Opols, whose family tree is painted on the wall, who ruled the ducal capital and its principality from the 12th to the mid-16th century. Fourteen princes and duchesses of this ruling family found eternal rest here.

The original bastion was built here in the ^15th century as one of the defensive elements of the Wojanów Gate. In 1514, it was completely rebuilt, and then began to serve a dual function - bastion and chapel.

Unfortunately, the building did not survive the Thirty Years' War: in 1634, it burned down in a major city fire. Less than a hundred years later (1709-1715), it was rebuilt to plans by architect Kasper Jentsch.

Located north of the Rynek, it has been modified over the ages, losing its Gothic style to become a graceful blend of period styles that is well displayed since its recent renovation with two twin bell towers that tower over the city. It is a monument very dear to the people of the city, who associate it closely with their history, and a place of faith and discreet pilgrimage for its Virgin. It is the burial place of the last of the Piast of Opole, John II the Good.

This church is a part of the old Benedictine abbey that used to stand on this spot. It was built in the 18th century in baroque style, and its interior is beautifully decorated with frescoes. The place is normally closed outside of services, but the guard of the Battle of Legnica Museum, located right across the street, has the keys and can let you in if you ask nicely and promise to respect this religious sanctuary.