Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Żelowice

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Żelowice is a small, historic Roman Catholic church in a village in Strzelin County. The present building was erected in 1865-1866 as a rebuilding of a former family burial chapel, originally raised in the 16th century on the grounds of the local palace estate.

Neo-Gothic rebuilding in the 19th century

The neo-Gothic brick rebuilding was initiated by Countess Karolina von Mettich. The church was consecrated on 31 May 1866, and a second consecration took place on 9 June 1868.

Traces of the Austro-Prussian War

During the Austro-Prussian War of 1866-1867, the interior of the church served as a field military hospital.

Epitaphs in the walls

Renaissance and Baroque epitaphs bearing the coats of arms of noble families, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, have survived on the exterior and interior walls - a reminder of the building's original function as a burial chapel.

Heritage protection

The church complex in Żelowice is entered in the heritage register under number 381/713/W of 26 July 1995. The church serves as a filial church and is an active place of worship.

Nearby

A few kilometres from Żelowice lies the Wojsławice Arboretum together with the pavilion with an exhibition about the arboretum, and towards Niemcza you can reach the Church of St Adalbert. It is also worth visiting the palace in Piotrkówek.

Practical information

• Address: the village of Żelowice, Strzelin County.
• Getting there: via local roads from Strzelin or Niemcza, the church stands within the former palace estate.
• What to expect: a small, active church with a neo-Gothic form and 16th-17th-century epitaphs in its walls; service times are worth checking directly with the parish before your visit.