Architecture: Pszczyna

Architecture in Pszczyna means baroque, neoclassical and neo-baroque in one small town: the castle, Wybrańcy Gate, the town hall and a wooden open-air museum.

This selection suits visitors who want to read a town through its buildings, from Gothic roots to the 19th century. Broader overviews are in architecture in Silesia and things to do in Pszczyna.

Which architectural styles can you see in Pszczyna?

Baroque, neoclassical and 19th-century revival styles dominate, with wooden folk houses alongside. The contrast shows within a few hundred metres between the castle and the square.

The Wybrańcy Gate, dated 1687, is a baroque entrance on the square side. The Ludwikówka manor, with a portico on Tuscan columns, and the oval tea pavilion in the park are neoclassical. Revival styles appear in the neo-Romanesque ice house and the Evangelical church, which received its present neo-baroque look once the 1905 blaze was over.

What should you see around the market square?

Municipal and religious buildings gather by the square, all within an easy stroll. It is worth combining them with a visit to the castle.

The town hall has neo-Renaissance façades and a clock tower. The Catholic All Saints Church was rebuilt in 1754 after a fire, and beneath it lies the Promnitz crypt. On Bramkowa Street stands the former synagogue of 1835. After its conversion into a cinema in 1941 it lost its original furnishings and is no longer used for prayer, so treat it as a trace of the Jewish community seen from the street.

Where can you see historic buildings from the inside in Pszczyna?

You can go inside at the castle, the open-air museum and a townhouse on the pedestrian street. All three are good choices for a rainy day.

The castle operates as the Castle Museum, and much of its interior is original. In the park, the Pszczyna Village Farmstead shows a dozen or so wooden folk buildings. The Museum of the Silesian Press occupies a townhouse from around 1800 on Piastowska Street, with printing machines and a linotype on display.

Is there a historic cemetery in Pszczyna?

Yes, the Jewish cemetery on Katowicka Street, a place of remembrance where quiet and respect are expected. Entry is free.

It was founded in 1814. A brick fence with ornamental gates and a neo-Gothic funeral house survive, along with about four hundred gravestones. The history of such burial grounds is told in an article on Jewish cemeteries of the Pszczyna and Rybnik area; the cemetery has its own entry.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best opening stop for architecture in Pszczyna?

At the square, because the town hall, two churches and the gate stand close together. Leave the castle and park for later in the day.

Which buildings can you enter?

The castle, the open-air museum and the Museum of the Silesian Press. Others, such as the town hall or the ice house, you see from outside.

Is the synagogue in Pszczyna open to visitors?

It is a former synagogue that was converted into a cinema in 1941. Services are not held there now, and the interior has no original furnishings.

Where can you find a plan for a whole day in Pszczyna?

In the article on the park, open-air museum and bison reserve and in the piece on the rebuilding of the castle.