Swidnica Church of Peace, Świdnica, Poland

The Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica, the largest timber-framed religious buildings in Europe, were built in the former Silesia in the mid-17th century, amid the religious strife that followed the Peace of Westphalia. Constrained by the physical and political conditions, the Churches of Peace bear testimony to the quest for religious freedom and are a rare expression of Lutheran ideology in an idiom generally associated with the Catholic Church.

The Church of the Holy Trinity in Świdnica was built in 1656–1657 as a three-aisled basilica with a Greek cross ground plan.

The church can accommodate 7500 people. The exquisite 18th century wooden altar dominates the Baroque interior. The relief above the altar stone shows the Last Supper. Above the relief stand sculpted figures of Moses, arch-priest Aaron, Jesus, John the Baptist and the apostles Peter and Paul. The central scene between the figures shows the baptism of Christ in the river Jordan. The altar is surmounted by a book with seven seals, a lamb and a banner.

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User Reviews

Pawel Brodzinski (4 years ago)
Normally, I don't fancy visiting churches and cathedrals. It's true, they are typically the oldest and the most monumental buildings around. But having seen many of them you get the experience of "yet another one of those" kind. This church is different. One thing is it's history (why it was build in that place and with this technique). Another is a very different than usual aesthetics of the place. It is as impressive inside as it is outside. Then you have all the buildings around. It is really the place to visit in Swidnica.

Anna Sekowska (4 years ago)
Really beautiful place. The interior is amazing. It's being renovated right now so it is not in its full glory yet.

Rogue Travelers (5 years ago)
It's hard to imagine so much decoration that this old wooden evangelical church contains, until you see it on your own. Interesting history goes with it. Well organized for tourists.

E. Pomelo (5 years ago)
An incredible church with amazing indoor and outdoor architecture. A true piece of history! Definitely worth a visit.

Ankit Patel (5 years ago)
Constructed within one year after the Peace of Westphalia (treaties ending the Thirty Years' War in 1648), these churches—the largest timber-framed religious buildings in Europe—were built by Lutherans in the Roman Catholic parts of Silesia, Poland.

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Because the region was located on the route of the Camino de Santiago, many monasteries and churches were built during the Middle Ages, and in 1199, while under Plantagenet rule, the town was granted full rights.

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