Church of the Good Shepherd in Świerklaniec

In the northern part of the Świerklaniec park, away from the former palace buildings, stands the neo-Gothic church of the Good Shepherd — the Lutheran court church of the Henckel von Donnersmarck family, joined by an open cloister to the family mausoleum, crowned by a copper Angel of Peace.

The count's jewel

The temple was raised in 1896–1897 at the wish of Count Guido von Donnersmarck, to a design by Julius Carl Raschdorff, an architect from Pszczyna. The church was meant for the count, his family and officials of the nearby residence, and its model was Berlin's Monbijou. In 1903–1905 a family mausoleum was added to the north, connected to the church by a cloister with ornamental arches and pillars — together they form a neo-Gothic sacral-sepulchral ensemble.

Plundered in 1945

The complex came through the Second World War unscathed, but in 1945 it was plundered — the stained glass and the organ were lost and the furnishing looted. After post-war renovations the church returned to sacred use: today it is a Catholic filial church of the parish of Christ the King in Świerklaniec.

In the crypt and in practice

The mausoleum crypt holds, among others, Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck and his first wife Blanche, Marquise de Paiva. The church on Parkowa street is considered one of the region's most popular wedding venues; in season Mass is celebrated on Sundays, and weddings take place on Saturdays. Combine your visit with a walk in the park and the Cavalier Palace — remains of the former residence known as the Little Versailles.