Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and St Bartholomew in Wrocław

The Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and St Bartholomew in Wrocław is a Gothic church on Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island), standing on Plac Kościelny, right next to the former castle of the Silesian Piasts. The church was founded by Duke Henry Probus (Henry IV the Righteous) as a votive offering after the end of a dispute with Bishop Thomas II. The duke issued the founding charter on 11 January 1288.

Construction spread over several decades

Work on the chancel lasted from 1288 to 1295. The nave body and transept were built between 1320 and 1350, financed by Bishop Nanker, and the vaults were completed around 1320. The probable designer of the building was master Wiland, the duke's court builder.

Gothic with later additions

The church has retained its Gothic character, though in later centuries it underwent rebuilding: baroque alterations in 1672 and 1723 and neo-Gothic ones in the 19th century. The building measures 66 metres in length and 44 metres in width, the height of the naves reaches 19 metres, and the south tower rises to 69 metres.

Interior and furnishings

The church houses an organ with 48 stops and 3 manuals, built in 2001. The bell dates from 1769 and weighs about 1,400 kilograms. Among the furnishings is an altar with a pentaptych from Przecław.

The collegiate church today

The building functions as a parish church, belonging to the parish of the Holy Cross on Ostrów Tumski. The collegiate chapter was reactivated in 1999. The church is a brick building listed on the register of immovable heritage monuments. The register notes three entries: number 7 from 26 November 1947, number 44 from 25 January 1962, and number A/5256/44 from 15 June 2011, and the dating of the building in the register covers the period from the 12th to the 14th century.

Neighbouring the former castle

The collegiate church stands right next to the former castle of the Silesian Piasts, on Plac Kościelny on Ostrów Tumski. This proximity explains the rank the church held for the rulers of Silesia at the time of its founding - it was built right by the ducal residence, as a votive offering following the resolution of the dispute with the Bishop of Wrocław.

Around Ostrów Tumski

The collegiate church stands next to the Archcathedral of St John the Baptist and lies a few hundred metres from the Tumski Bridge, which most visitors use to reach the island from the direction of the centre. It is also close to the Botanical Garden of the University of Wrocław, and a walk towards the Old Town leads to the Market Square.

Practical information

• Address: Plac Kościelny, Ostrów Tumski, Wrocław.
• Access: on foot across the Tumski Bridge from the direction of Wrocław's centre.
• What to expect: an active parish church; it is worth checking service and visiting hours directly before a visit.