Church of Our Lady in Racibórz

The Church of Our Lady in Racibórz, in the Nowe Zagrody district, is a Baroque Marian shrine and parish church. The brick church was built in the first half of the 18th century and is entered in the heritage register.

History of the shrine

The first church on this spot was wooden and was built in 1432. The present brick church was erected in 1723-1736, and it was consecrated by Bishop Eliasz Sommerfeld on 25 September 1736. It is regarded as the oldest Marian shrine in Upper Silesia. In 1932, on the 500th anniversary of the church, the picture of Our Lady was crowned by Cardinal Adolf Bertram. The crowns were stolen in 1985, new ones were blessed by John Paul II, and the re-coronation in 1987 was performed by Bishop Alfons Nossol.

The picture and interior

The centre of worship is the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Racibórz, painted on wood, measuring 77 by 120 cm. It dates from the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries and is a copy of the composition of the picture of Our Lady of Częstochowa. It is placed in the Neo-Baroque main altar from 1870. The church has a single nave and is in the Baroque style.

Practical information

• Address: Jana Pawła II 2, Racibórz.
• The church is in active use as a parish church and shrine. The schedule of services and the possibility of visiting are given by the parish.
• It is about two and a half kilometres from here to the Market Square and Racibórz Castle, and about one and a half to the City of Roth Park.