Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Tworków

In Tworków in the Racibórz Land, not far from the Czech border, stands the Baroque church of Saints Peter and Paul — considered one of the most valuable Baroque works of this land. Beneath its floor hides a family crypt with eleven coffins from 1650, discovered only in 1993.

Built after the fire

The parish of Tworków is recorded as early as 1339. The fire of 2 May 1676 destroyed the church, the rectory and part of the village; until the early 1690s a temporary wooden temple served the parish. Construction of the present church began on 6 April 1691: until 1692 the works were led by master Graffenrenter, and they were completed by Jan Zeller of Opava in 1694. The consecration followed in 1697, and the church was entered in the heritage register in 1955.

The Reiswitz crypt

The temple's greatest secret came to light only in 1993: beneath the patrons' gallery from which the Reiswitz family, former owners of Tworków, attended Mass, a crypt with eleven coffins from 1650 was discovered. It holds Wacław von Reiswitz, his wife Ewa Wilczek and their nine children; the coffins themselves are works of art.

Furnishing and practice

The main altar features a 17th-century image of the Virgin and Child painted on a board; beside it are two side altars and a richly carved pulpit. The church is surrounded by a cemetery with historic gravestones; in 2002 it received an award in the Well-Kept Monument competition. Address: Główna street 19, free parking nearby; 400 m away stands the castle of Tworków.