The Monastic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist in Henryków

The Monastic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist in Henryków is a fascinating synthesis of styles and the most precious element of the local abbey. Its history dates back to 1241, and its current form is the result of centuries of transformations – from austere Gothic to magnificent Baroque.

Architectural Evolution The oldest part of the temple is the Late Gothic presbytery and transept, to which a Gothic main nave was added in the 14th century. Over time, the church structure was enriched with further elements: a Renaissance tower (1608) and numerous chapels. The Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, serving as the Piast Mausoleum, deserves special attention. It is the resting place of Duke Bolko and his wife Jutta; their shared Gothic tombstone is one of the oldest monuments of this type in Poland.

Baroque Interior Richness The church interior dazzles with its Baroque décor, crafted by the greatest masters of the era.

• The Main Altar: A monumental work by Georg Schroetter from the 1680s. The central point of the altar features paintings by the “Silesian Rembrandt” – Michael Willmann – depicting the Vision of St. Bernard and the Savior of the World. The composition is completed by figures of patron saints and apostles.
• The Henryków Stalls: A true masterpiece of woodcarving. Although their oak core dates back to the Renaissance, their decoration is the quintessence of Baroque. They impress with precisely crafted reliefs depicting the life of Christ and later, dynamic sculptures of saints and popes.
• The Organ: An instrument dating from the mid-17th century, built by masters from Świdnica, it is considered the oldest organ in all of Silesia.

Symbolism and Tradition The temple also plays an important role in Polish culture. One of the side altars houses a figure of the Mother of God with Child, venerated as the Mother of the Polish Language (crowned in 1952). This name refers to the famous Book of Henryków, which contains the first sentence ever written in the Polish language. The spiritual and artistic atmosphere is complemented by a cycle of 14 Baroque paintings in the main nave, depicting the legends and life of St. Bernard of Clairvaux.

About the Project

The project, officially titled “Virtual Tour of the Henryków Abbey: The Birthplace of the Book of Henryków, the Oldest Monument of Polish Writing,” is a modern initiative aimed at the digital preservation and accessibility of one of Silesia’s most valuable heritage sites. The task is being carried out by the Roman Catholic Parish in Henryków with the substantive support of the Foundation for the Virtualization of National Cultural Heritage.

Due to a drastic reduction in the received grant, only the first of nine project stages was completed: 3D laser scanning of the entire church architecture (including the roof truss and the interior of the tower) and the development of the final architectural point cloud in .e57 format.