Church of St Adalbert in Kościelec
Kościelec 103, 32-100 Kościelec
Tourist region: Kraków i okolice
The Church of St Adalbert in Kościelec is distinguished by its considerable size as for a village church and its exceptionally rich decoration. It is finished with stone details. The church was founded by the Bishop of Krakow Wisław of Kościelec of the Zabawa Coat of Arms. It was built between 1231 and 1242. However, this unique church has been preserved in a much-converted state. During the Reformation, the church was occupied and devastated by Arian heretics, and during the Swedish Deluge by soldiers who destroyed the church. During the reconstruction in 1634, the church was significantly transformed into the Baroque style. Despite the considerable changes, beautiful original Romanesque elements have survived to this day. These include the galleries surrounding the nave with arches supported by stone columns with richly decorated capitals. The most representative element of Romanesque decoration is the entrance portal to the church. The furnishings and interior decoration of the Church of St Adalbert in Kościelec come mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries and are preserved in the Baroque style.