Wooden churches of Southern Lesser Poland, Architectural ensemble of wooden churches in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland.
This group of eight churches in southern Poland was built using stacked horizontal logs and features Gothic, Baroque, and Rococo decorative details. Each building maintains its original painted interiors and wooden altar carvings that show the skill of builders from centuries past.
Built from the 14th to 16th centuries, these structures show a mix of Catholic and Orthodox religious building traditions that existed in the region. They represent a period when log construction was the common way to build churches across this part of Europe.
The painted interiors and carved wooden altars show artistic methods that local craftspeople developed and passed down over time. These details reveal how faith and craftsmanship shaped the way these communities built spaces for worship.
The churches are accessible via marked paths and road signs throughout the region, though opening hours vary at each location. Contact local communities or check ahead as some buildings may require arrangements to enter.
The Church of Haczów, built in 1388, stands as the largest and oldest surviving Gothic wooden church across the whole continent. Its rarity and age make it a remarkable survival of medieval carpentry methods that are found nowhere else at this scale.
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