St John the Baptist's Church in Choroń

The church in Choroń stands on the ridge of the westernmost hill in the area, which is why its tower can be seen from many points in the northern Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. The road beside it is one of the best viewpoints over the Poraj Reservoir, Biskupice and the Sokole Góry hills. The church itself combines village scale with two Renaissance portals, and its history goes back to the 16th century.

History: from a chapel of ease to a parish

In 1595 Choroń had a brick chapel, which on a church inspector's orders became a branch of the parish in Przybynów. The Poraj municipality dates the brick church to the late 16th century, while other sources say a church was built on the site of the chapel in 1657. It has been rebuilt many times. In 1903–1913 the owners of the local manor farm, Edward and Stanisława Byliński, thoroughly renovated and enlarged it with a view to creating a parish. The independent parish of St John the Baptist was established by the Bishop of Kielce in June 1916.

On 3 September 1939 fierce fighting took place near the church, involving the 74th Upper Silesian Infantry Regiment from Lubliniec; a monument to the 105 Polish soldiers who fell stands in nearby Dębowiec. After the war the nave was extended by 10 m, and the interior was thoroughly rebuilt in the 1950s and 1960s. The church was consecrated in 1976, and in 1972 it was entered in the heritage register.

What to look for

• Two Renaissance portals, the most valuable architectural features.
• The polygonal west tower with a pyramid roof, and a small bell turret where the nave and chancel roofs meet.
• The rectangular body of the church with a narrower, square-ended chancel.
• The panorama from the road by the church over the Upper Warta lowland and the Poraj Reservoir.

Tripto tip

This is a working parish church; the best time to look inside is in the morning or afternoon, just before or after the daily Mass. The interior is modern (the altars date from the late 20th century), so the real draw here is the exterior and the view. Allow 20–30 minutes for the church and the viewpoint. The visit combines easily with time by the Poraj Reservoir and a walk in the Sokole Góry hills.