The most beautiful churches cathedrals basilicas and chapels Poland

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.

St. Lawrence Church, located in the heart of Malbork Castle, is a ^14th-century Gothic masterpiece. With its soaring vaults, detailed carvings and magnificent stained glass windows, it bears witness to the grandeur of the Teutonic Order. Once the spiritual center of the fortress, it continues to attract visitors from all over the world with its history and majestic beauty. Its interior is adorned with detailed sculptures, religious frescoes and richly decorated altars, testifying to the skills of the craftsmen of the time.

This beautiful church in the characteristic Gdańsk style was built towards the end of the 17th century over a few years (more precisely from 1678 to 1681) on the initiative of King Jan III Sobieski and Primate Andrzej Olszowski. It was commissioned to provide a new place of worship for Catholics after the loss of Our Lady, granted to the city's Protestants. As a result, it is also the only Baroque church in Gdańsk, but unfortunately it can no longer be visited and can only be seen at the time of masses and other religious episodes.

This beautiful church built at the end of the 16th century, under the direction of Bernardo Morando, has a splendid interior. It is considered one of the most beautiful religious monuments of the Renaissance in Poland. Its vaulting is typical of Polish mannerism.

The monumental silver tabernacle is in rococo style. In the choir, there are four paintings depicting the life of St. Thomas, the patron saint of the city. From the top of the bell tower, there is a beautiful view of the city.

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.

Located in front of the Episcopal Palace, this church was founded by one of the bishops of Krakow who sat there at the end of the 12th century. Originally built in Romanesque style, it was rebuilt in the 17th century and has been modified several times since then to create a striking result dominated by the Baroque style. Inside, there is a Gothic triptych dating from 1490, an ornamented tomb in a Renaissance style dating from 1553.

Bydgoszcz's oldest church is a remarkable example of Gothic architecture. Its interiors are exceptional and impressive. Its walls and ceilings are covered in vivid colors, polychromes painted between 1922 and 1925 by Henryk Jackowski, inspired by the modernist ideas of the Młoda Polska art movement. The combination of color, Gothic architecture and Baroque altars is breathtaking. A must-see.

This eighteenth-century Baroque basilica is a bit out of the way, but it is immediately noticeable if you walk along the banks of the Vistula River, the way it majestically stands out from the river, in the middle of a park. It is one of the most popular places of worship in the city, because of its special relationship with St. Stanislaus, the patron saint of Poland. After his murder, the martyr and bishop was installed here and celebrated before he was canonized and later exhumed and transported to the Wawel. The memory of the saint continues to keep alive the basilica, which is one of the richest in the city. Its interior is a true Baroque jewel that should not be missed: pastel colors, golden ornaments, statues of angels and saints. Above all, the chapel dedicated to St. Stanislaus. Inside, you can see the trunk on which the drops of blood of the bishop fell. The miraculous water in the basin near the church, with a statue of St. Stanislaus, is said to have healing powers, especially for skin and eye diseases.

Every year since the 13th century, on the first Sunday after May 8, the faithful carry the relic of the Bishop of Wawel to Skałka. The start of the grand procession is marked by the ringing of Sigismund's bell. This is one of the highlights of the country that is a must see. Under the basilica is the Crypt of the Meritorious, where "great men" who have distinguished themselves in the field of culture, science and art are buried.

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.

Located south of the Rynek opposite the Bishops' Palace, this enormous church dates from the 13th century. In the 19th century, it was enriched with beautiful stained glass windows and Art Nouveau murals by Stanisław Wyspiański: the one above the door, God the Creator, is a true masterpiece. During Lent, every Friday around 4:30 pm, men dressed in black carry a skull to the Passion Chapel, where they then lie on the floor. In the adjacent cloister(klasztor), there is an amazing collection of portraits of all the bishops of Krakow.

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.

Nicknamed "The Crown of Gdańsk", it is one of Poland's largest churches, measuring 105 m long, 66 m wide (at transept level), 27 m high, and 5,000 m² of floor space. The roof covers an area of one hectare. The church is comparable in size to Notre-Dame de Paris. It can hold up to 20,000 people, as was the case during the period of martial law to support the members of Solidarnośćwho took refuge here. It took 160 years of work, between 1343 and 1502, to complete its construction. Initially Catholic, it became Protestant in 1572, before reverting to Catholicism in 1945. It was damaged during the Second World War, but rebuilt afterwards.

The interior, painted white, is particularly light and bright, reinforcing the impression of gigantism. 80% of its art treasures were saved during the war and stand out against the white walls. You can also climb the 405 steps to the top of the tower, for an exceptional view of the whole city.

Don't miss the astronomical clock, the real jewel of the church, built between 1464 and 1470. At the bottom, the two-screen calendarium shows the date, time and liturgical calendar; in the middle, the planetarium shows the lunar phases, the zodiac signs and the positions of the sun and moon in relation to them; above, at noon, the twelve apostles, the Magi and Death; at the very top, Adam and Eve.

The construction of the Ark of the Lord was the result of an intense struggle by the inhabitants against the communist regime, which wanted a "city without God". Unfortunately, the workers of Nowa Huta, often from the countryside, won. It was the future Pope John Paul II, Karol Wojtyła, then archbishop of Krakow, who laid the foundation stone of the church in 1969, in this case a fragment of the tomb of St. Peter sent by the Vatican.

The temple resembles Noah's Ark, stranded on Mount Ararat, with its 70 m high mast in the shape of a cross surrounded by a crown. It should be seen as a metaphor that Christianity will survive communism. Inside the church, there is a gigantic bronze Christ, 8 m high, crucified but without a cross. In the months following the opening of the church, masses were celebrated every 30 minutes on Sundays to cope with the crowds. From December 13, 1981 to July 22, 1983, during the Martial Law, on the 13th of each month in this church, the "Mass for the Fatherland" was celebrated, for social justice and respect for human rights. These masses were followed by demonstrations against the violation of civil rights by the authorities, which were severely repressed by the police. The most famous victim of these riots was Bogdan Włosik, a 19-year-old student working at the steel mill. In front of the church is the monument commemorating the place where Włosik was killed by a secret police agent in 1982.

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.

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!