Wooden Church in Wilkowisko

Key information

The Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Wilkowisko, in the Jodłownik commune, is a wooden church at the foot of the Island Beskids. It stands in the village centre beside the parish cemetery. The present building was created in the 20th century after an earlier church burned down in 1916.

History and architecture

The parish was established in 1328. A later church, funded around 1521, burned down on 28 January 1916. Construction of the present church continued in 1921–1927; the diocesan history gives 1923 as the date of its creation. The design follows the region’s traditional timber architecture: the interior has wood panelling and false barrel vaults supported by decorative arcades. The church is part of the Wooden Architecture Trail in Małopolska.

What to see and practical details

The church preserves older furnishings, including a 15th-century crucifix, an image of Our Lady of Good Protection from the early 18th century, a Late Baroque main altar brought from the former church in Limanowa, and two bells dated to the 16th and 17th centuries. A cemetery founded in 1848 surrounds the church. This is an active parish, so no fixed sightseeing hours have been confirmed. Visit the interior outside services or arrange access with the parish. Address: Wilkowisko 17, 34-617 Wilkowisko, Poland; phone +48 18 334 31 89; email wilkowisko@diecezja.tarnow.pl. Masses: Sundays 07:30, 10:30, 15:00; weekdays 07:00 and 18:00, with the evening Mass at 17:00 in winter. Check the current schedule before travelling.