Church of the Nativity of St John the Baptist in Kamieniec

The Church of the Nativity of St John the Baptist in Kamieniec is a late Gothic parish church on the edge of a hill sloping down to the Drama valley. It is surrounded by a cemetery, and the brick tower with crenellations is visible from afar. The church is among the oldest buildings in the Zbrosławice municipality.

History

A visitation record from 1699 states that the church was already consecrated in 1417. In 1570-1629 it was used by Protestants, then it returned to the Catholics. Around 1860-1870 the building was extended and rebuilt, including the west façade. It was renovated in 1939 and after a fire in 1986. A Gothic bell from 1487 still hangs in the tower.

Architecture and interior

It is an oriented, brick, single-nave church with a chancel closed on three sides. A square tower topped with brick crenellations adjoins it on the north, and a chapel with a semicircular end on the south. The interior holds four altars and several paintings and sculptures from the 17th and 18th centuries. Behind the high altar a Renaissance sandstone tombstone is set into the wall, commemorating the children of the Sedlnicki family, Jan and Małgorzata, with Czech inscriptions. In the choir loft stands an organ from the mid-19th century.

Nearby

Only a few hundred metres from the church stands the palace in Kamieniec, so both monuments can be seen on one walk.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Tarnogórska 3, Kamieniec.
• The church is an active parish church, so visiting the interior depends on the parish's rules.
• Information on access is given on the parish website: parafiakamieniec.pl.