Co-Cathedral of St Hedwig in Zielona Góra

The Co-Cathedral of St Hedwig of Silesia at ul. Mickiewicza 14 is the oldest surviving historic building in Zielona Góra. The brick Gothic hall church has survived fires, the Reformation and the collapse of its tower, and its present silhouette combines medieval walls with a 19th-century Neoclassical tower. It is a natural stop on a walk around the centre, a few minutes from the pedestrian street and the town hall.

History: a ducal foundation and stormy centuries

The church was founded in the second half of the 13th century by Duke Konrad I of Głogów and dedicated to St Hedwig – his grandmother. Construction began in 1272, and according to the parish chronicle it was consecrated on the Sunday after St Michael's, i.e. 3 October 1294, under the founder's son, Henry III of Głogów. The founder was buried within the church.

After a fire in 1419 the brick hall that survives today was built. In 1544 the church was taken over by Protestants, and during the Thirty Years' War it changed hands several times. Finally, on 15 March 1651, the starost of Głogów handed it to the Catholics. Fires repeatedly struck the building – in the great town fire of 1582 the vault collapsed, and after a fire in the mid-17th century rebuilding took a quarter of a century.

The worst disaster came in 1776: the long-cracked tower collapsed, destroying vaults and sections of wall. Rebuilding lasted until 1780, and the present Neoclassical four-storey tower with a terrace and dome was erected in 1832. On 7 June 1992 the church was elevated to co-cathedral of the Diocese of Zielona Góra-Gorzów.

What to see

• Gothic details – buttresses, pointed windows, the south portal, and inside the arcades between the aisles and the chancel arch.
• The Baroque choir loft from the 17th century with painted figures of saints.
• The Gethsemane Chapel closed by a Renaissance wrought-iron grille; during the restoration blessed in 2014, fragments of frescoes showing scenes in the Garden of Gethsemane were uncovered.
• The high altar, a triptych with the mysteries of the Rosary, consecrated in 1978.
• Renaissance and Baroque tombstones outside and inside.
• The bronze doors of the main entrance blessed in 2012 and the statue of St Hedwig from 2017.
• The statue of St John of Nepomuk by the south wall – the oldest monument in the city.

Curious facts

In 1952 Primate Stefan Wyszyński administered confirmation here. From 1968 to 2008 the Gethsemane Chapel served the local Greek Catholic community, and on 13 August 2022 the co-cathedral hosted the first episcopal consecration in Zielona Góra's history.

Tripto tips

• Masses: Sundays at 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 18:00, weekdays at 7:00, 8:00 and 18:00 (according to the parish website) – visit between services.
• Time needed: 30–45 minutes is enough for the interior and a walk around the church.
• Support: the parish is currently raising funds to rebuild the organ, so some furnishings may be under repair.
• Walk on: the Old Market Square and the town hall are close by.