Church of the Transfiguration in Libiąż

The Church of the Transfiguration at 83 Oświęcimska Street in Libiąż is a red-brick Neo-Gothic church from the early 20th century whose interior deliberately imitates St Mary's Basilica in Kraków. Under a deep-blue, star-studded vault stands a triptych altarpiece modelled on Veit Stoss's masterpiece, and the pulpit is a copy of the one in St Mary's.

History: a priest in love with St Mary's

The Transfiguration parish in Libiąż Wielki was founded in 1735 by Count Wielopolski. The first, wooden church stood on the spacious square in front of today's building; the new one was built next to it, on the former burial ground. Its decoration was shaped by Fr Franciszek Pietrzykowski, parish priest for 51 years (1880–1931), a native of Kraków who had been fascinated by St Mary's Basilica since childhood. He brought in artists from Kraków, Munich, Brno and Vienna to furnish the interior. Some sources attribute the design to Teodor Talowski, but other descriptions point to the Kraków practice of Rajmund Meus and Bronisław Górski, and the parish website does not name the architect.

What to see

• The high altar of 1910 by the Kraków sculptor Franciszek Styczeń – an oak triptych, painted and richly gilded. At its centre is the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, the inner wings show six scenes from the life of Christ, and the outer wings the twelve mysteries of the Rosary.
• Styczeń's pulpit – a copy of the pulpit in St Mary's Basilica, with the Good Shepherd and the Evangelists.
• The 1930 wall paintings, with stars on the vault and plant motifs on the walls.
• Stained glass in the chancel by the Munich firm of Mayer (Nativity, Resurrection, Annunciation) and round windows from the Skarda workshop in Brno.
• Side altars by Władysław Druciak from 1912, including one to St Barbara, patron of miners, and Neo-Gothic confessionals from 1913.

Did you know

The triptych is closed for only two weeks a year – from the fifth Sunday of Lent to Good Friday – and only then can you see the Rosary reliefs. Beside the altar stands an angel holding the crowned white eagle, which survived the communist era. Opposite the entrance, exactly where the altar of the old wooden church once stood, parishioners erected a statue of the Sacred Heart in Pińczów stone in 1930 to mark Fr Pietrzykowski's 50 years of ministry. The two bells from 1971 were blessed by Cardinal Karol Wojtyła.

Tripto tips

• The nave is 45 m long and the tower 55 m high. Allow 30–45 minutes for the interior.
• This is a working church. Masses on Sundays at 7:00, 9:00, 11:00, 12:30 and 18:00, on weekdays at 6:30, 7:00 (except July and August) and 18:00. Visit the interior before or after Mass; contact: tel. +48 32 627 14 03.
• If you want to see the closed triptych, come during the last two weeks of Lent.