Church of the Saviour in Tarnowskie Góry

The tall clock tower on the market square in Tarnowskie Góry does not belong to the town hall but to the Lutheran church. The Church of the Saviour is a neo-Romanesque church whose story goes back to the 18th century, when a Lutheran parish was revived here after the years of the Counter-Reformation. The easiest way to see the interior is with a guide from the Tarnowskie Góry Museum – a good stop before visiting the Historic Silver Mine.

History: from prayer house to neo-Romanesque church

The Lutheran parish resumed its activities in the mid-18th century. In 1780 a modest prayer house was replaced by a Baroque church built by Christoph Worbs. The tower was raised in 1842, and in 1898–1900 the church was remodelled to a design by Adolf Seiffhart, giving it the neo-Romanesque appearance it has kept ever since. The interior was designed in the same style.

Until the 1970s a two-storey townhouse stood against the east side of the church, once home to the management of the Friedrich mine and later to the Lutheran parish. The church still serves the local Protestant community and also hosts organ concerts.

What to see

• The facade with its clock tower, rose window and portal, plus a small bell turret on the roof.
• The single-nave interior with galleries – typical of Protestant churches, designed to seat as many people as possible close to the pulpit.
• The pulpit altar, with the pulpit placed above the altar, and the baptismal font.
• The Carl Wernicke plaque on the outside wall. The world-famous neurologist and psychiatrist was born in Tarnowskie Góry and baptised here in 1848; the plaque was unveiled in 2008, on the 160th anniversary of his baptism.

The church is a listed monument (A/610/2020). Its clock tower is visible from every corner of the square, so it is hard to miss.

Did you know?

• The Baroque church of 1780 was designed by Christoph Worbs of Strzelce, and the carpentry was done by Jan Karol Henning of Opole.
• It was built on the plot of a townhouse donated to the town by a wealthy burgher – which is why the church does not stand on a square of its own but fits into the row of houses like its neighbours.

Tours and prices

The Tarnowskie Góry Museum offers guided tours of the church in Polish for PLN 80 and in English for PLN 120 per group of up to 30 people; individuals can book too. Booking is required at least three days in advance: tel. +48 32 285 26 07 ext. 23 or edukacja@muzeumtg.pl (as of October 2026). Allow 30–45 minutes for the visit.

Tripto tip

The church stands at Rynek 12. The market square is closed to traffic, so park in a nearby street and walk; from the railway station it takes about 15 minutes on foot. The museum is in the Sedlaczek House on the corner of the square and ul. Gliwicka, a few steps from the church. About 2.6 km away are the Historic Silver Mine and the Black Trout Adit, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.