Churches & monasteries

St. Nicholas Church in Byczyna

On Okrężna Street, within the medieval town walls of Byczyna, stands the Gothic church of St. Nicholas, built at the end of the 14th century. Today it serves as a filial church of the Evangelical-Augsburg parish in Wołczyn, its stately silhouette neighbouring the town hall and gates of the old town.

A churchyard behind the low wall

Until the 18th century the ground around the church served as a cemetery, enclosed by a low wall. Archaeological research uncovered its traces, and in 2010 the wall was reconstructed. The building was thoroughly renewed twice: in 1790–1791 and in 1886–1888, when it took on Neo-Gothic features.

A crucifix from the school of Veit Stoss

The interior holds many works of sacred art. The most precious is the wooden Gothic crucifix of 1530 from the so-called Kraków School, most likely made by pupils of Veit Stoss. A Renaissance votive painting by Albrecht Opali shows the baptism of Christ in the Jordan. The epitaphs and burial crypts — among them those of Duke von Württemberg and the Frankenberg family — also deserve attention.

In practice

The church stands a short walk from the market square, so a visit fits naturally into a circuit of the town walls, the Polish Gate and the German Gate. A quarter of an hour is enough for the interior.