Churches & monasteries

St Mary's Church in Legnica

St Mary’s Church in Legnica is one of the oldest churches in Silesia. Its origins reach back to the second half of the 12th century, and a stone church recorded in 1192 preceded the present Gothic basilica. Also known as the Niederkirche, it stands on Najświętszej Marii Panny Street and connects Piast history with the city’s Lutheran heritage.

From a stone church to Gothic form

Tradition says that St Hedwig of Silesia prayed here and that Duke Henry the Pious prayed in the church before the Battle of Legnica in 1241. A fire in 1338 destroyed the earlier building. Between 1362 and 1386 a three-aisled basilica was erected and later enlarged, including with a double chapel for the drapers’ guild.

A Lutheran church

After the Reformation the church became Protestant and it still serves the Augsburg Evangelical parish. Notice the Gothic portal details, the tall brick body and the interior, where successive phases of the building’s history remain legible. The name Niederkirche refers to its position in the lower part of the former town.

Practical information

The church is a few minutes’ walk from the cathedral and Piast Castle. It is an active place of worship, and sightseeing follows the rules and dates published by the parish; check the current visitor information before travelling. Allow 20–30 minutes for the church and a short walk through the Old Town.