Collegiate Church of St Bartholomew in Głogówek

St. Bartholomew's Church in Głogówek (say "gwo-GOO-vek"), a former collegiate church, is often called the "Pearl of the Opole Region". Behind its Gothic brick walls and twin towers lies one of the most spectacular Baroque and Rococo interiors in Polish Silesia, painted by the Moravian artist Franz Anton Sebastini. It is the highlight of a visit to Głogówek, a small town near the Czech border where Beethoven once stayed as a guest of the local counts.

Where it is

Głogówek is in Opole Province in southwestern Poland, about 36 km (22 miles) south of Opole and roughly 85 km west of Katowice as the crow flies; Wrocław is about 100 km away. The town lies on railway line 137, with trains toward Katowice and Nysa, but a car gives you more flexibility for exploring the area. The church stands on Kościelna Street, a short walk from the Market Square.

A short history

A parish here is first recorded on June 10, 1284. According to a 1680 church visitation, the present church was founded in 1350 by Duke Frederick, and in 1379 Duke Henry of Niemodlin established a college of canons – hence "collegiate church" – which lasted until 1810. The church weathered the aftermath of the Hussite wars, a Protestant period in the 16th century, a fire in 1582 and Swedish troops in 1643.

The real turning point was the great town fire of 1765. Between 1776 and 1781 the interior was remade in Rococo style: Sebastini (born Šebesta, he Italianized his name, as was fashionable) painted the frescoes, while Johann Josef Schubert created the sculpture and stucco work. The towers gained their current tops in 1779; the southern spire, destroyed in 1945, was faithfully rebuilt in 1958.

What to see inside

• Sebastini's ceilings and frescoes, including scenes from St. Bartholomew's life and the saint's apotheosis over the nave.
• The high altar with a painting of the martyrdom of St. Bartholomew, flanked by the four Evangelists.
• The pulpit, showing St. Peter healing and receiving the keys.
• The baptismal font with striking figures of Adam and Eve and a globe encircled by the serpent.
• The Oppersdorff Chapel, built around 1400 as the canons' meeting hall and used as the family's burial chapel since 1601. Its centerpiece is the black marble and alabaster tomb of Count George III von Oppersdorff and his wife, carved by Sebastiano Sala in 1634. A crypt below holds around 40 coffins.
• The organ, built by the Rieger company in 1929 (39 stops, three manuals).

Visiting tips

This is an active parish church with no set sightseeing hours, so the most reliable time to see the interior is around services. As of October 2026 the parish lists weekday Masses at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Sunday Masses at 7:00, 8:30 (in German), 10:00, 11:30 and 4:00 p.m. Allow 30–45 minutes and be discreet during liturgy. The Regional Museum offers guided town walks that include the main monuments (1.5–2 hours, book ahead; tours are typically in Polish). No ticket prices are published for the church.

Is it worth visiting?

If you love Baroque art or are touring Silesia's lesser-known towns, absolutely. Combine it with the Oppersdorff castle, where Beethoven stayed in 1806 and later dedicated his Fourth Symphony to Count Franz von Oppersdorff, the prison tower museum and the Franciscan church with its Loreto House.