St Andrew's Church in Graboszyce

The wooden Church of St Andrew in Graboszyce near Zator stands opposite a Renaissance fortified manor built by the same founder, Dziwisz (Dionizy) Brandys. It was built around 1585 in the Silesian-Lesser Poland style, and its oddity is a two-storey sacristy. The altar still holds paintings from the wings of a 16th-century triptych that, according to tradition, was a gift from Queen Anna Jagiellon.

History: a queen's gift to her lady-in-waiting

The church replaced an older, 14th-century one. Its founder, the royal secretary Dziwisz Brandys, owned the village at the time and around 1575 also built the fortified manor across the road. Queen Anna Jagiellon gave the paintings to her lady-in-waiting Małgorzata, Brandys's wife. In the early 17th century a tower was added on the west side, and in the 18th century it was raised by a belfry storey and topped with an onion dome to give the church a Baroque look.

The church was restored in 1975, when the colours of the Baroque tower top and domes were recreated, though a later conservation dropped the painted decoration. Today it has modern fire protection: if a fire breaks out, a water mist is sprayed over the roof, buying time for the fire brigade to arrive.

What to look for

• The two-storey sacristy on the north wall of the chancel, under a shared roof with the chancel.
• The tower, with strongly sloping walls at the bottom, a belfry chamber, a narrower top storey with the bells and an onion-shaped sheet-metal dome.
• The high altar with paintings from the triptych wings. In place of the lost central panel there is a Virgin and Child painted on wood, with St Andrew above it; the crowning piece is a relief of the Eye of Providence.
• The crucifix on the rood beam between the lower chancel and the nave.
• The stone font, probably 16th-century, and Baroque furnishings from the 17th–18th centuries.
• The grave of the Chrząszcz family, the last owners of Graboszyce, next to the church.

Good to know

Sources describe the wing paintings differently: the regional portal VisitMałopolska names an "Ecce Homo" and a Sorrowful Virgin, while other sources speak of Saints Peter and Andrew. Have a look at the altar yourself. The church is on the Wooden Architecture Route of the Małopolska region, and VisitMałopolska notes that photography and filming are allowed – though naturally not during services.

Tripto tip

Address: Graboszyce 15, Zator municipality, on the road from Zator to Wadowice. This is a working parish church, so the easiest way to see the interior is at Mass; to visit at other times, arrange it with the parish (tel. +48 33 841 25 93). Allow 20–30 minutes for the church and its surroundings. The 16th-century fortified manor, with the outline of its moat still clear, can be seen from the road, and a black-marked cycle route leads from here to Zator Castle.