Saint Nicholas church in Żarnów, Romanesque church in Żarnów, Poland

Saint Nicholas church in Żarnów is a Romanesque church whose original single-nave core now forms the transept of the present building. The western bay of the nave survives with its gallery, a round tower, and Romanesque pilasters carved with acanthus leaves and fantastic animals; a Romanesque window remains in the north wall. The rectangular presbytery, added in 1503, is covered by three bays of star vaulting.

The church is first mentioned in 1191, when it was a single-nave Romanesque building. In 1503 a late Gothic presbytery was added, and after a fire in 1893 the church was enlarged to a design by Stefan Szyller. The original Romanesque nave now serves as the transept, with Romanesque and Gothic wall fragments and details preserved.

The church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, reflecting medieval devotion to this widely venerated saint across Eastern Europe. It stands as part of a group of religious buildings that shaped early Christian practice in the region.

The church stands in the centre of Żarnów, in the Radom diocese, and remains an active parish church, so visits should be planned around services. The older part of the building is reached through the transept formed by the original Romanesque nave; look for the Romanesque window in the north wall and the spiral stone stairs inside.

The western round tower rises approximately 18.5 meters high with a diameter of about 2.4 meters and features a distinctive stepped narrowing partway up its shaft. This unusual architectural detail creates a striking profile that sets it apart from typical Romanesque towers.