St Anne Church in Ząbkowice Śląskie

St Anne’s Church in Ząbkowice Śląskie is a Gothic hall church with valuable furnishings and a long history. Nearby stands the Leaning Tower, the former church belfry, so the two monuments form one of the town’s most important walking stops.

The church of Charles IV

The first church in Ząbkowice was recorded in 1292. The present Gothic church was founded by the Bohemian king Charles IV and completed in 1413 or 1415. After the Hussite burning of the town in 1428, it was rebuilt and enlarged; it preserves three aisles, varied vaults and distinctive Gothic details.

Altar, tomb and the 1619 pulpit

Inside, look for the Gothic statue of St Anne Samotrzecia from 1493, the tomb of Duke Charles I of Münsterberg and Anna of Żagań in the Kauffung Chapel, and the 1619 pulpit with alabaster reliefs. The high altar of 1754–1759 carries a painting of St Anne and her family by Johann Clayssens of Antwerp. Also look for the epitaph of Veit Stoss the Younger.

Practical information

The church is at 12 St Wojciech Street, close to the Leaning Tower. It is an active parish; current Mass times are published on the church website, and interior visits are best planned outside services. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the church and tower. Ząbkowice is also worth exploring through the town’s former Frankenstein identity.