Jawor Peace Church

gypsyblue (Atlas Obscura User)

The Jawor Peace Church may be smaller than its more famous sister church in Świdnica, but its interior is no less stunning, and its location further off the beaten track means that a visit here often feels more intimate.

Prior to the two World Wars, the Thirty Years’ War between Catholics and Protestants (1618-1648) had been the deadliest conflict in modern European history, leaving large parts of Central Europe devastated and depopulated. As part of the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, the Protestant Lutherans were given permission to construct three churches in Silesia, which came to be known as the “peace churches.”

The three peace churches were built in Świdnica (then also known as Schweidnitz), Jawor (Jauer), and Głogów (Glogau). The church in Głogów burned down in 1758, but the peace churches in Świdnica and Jawor remain to this day.

In contrast to its gold-trimmed sister church, the Jawor Peace Church features a more modest blue and white palette that evokes a sense of calm and rest. It’s possible to be alone here and take your time admiring the exquisite woodwork and paintings that adorn every imaginable surface.

Know Before You Go

The Jawor Peace Church lies just outside Jawor's historic city center, about five minutes' walk from the main train station, which has direct connections from Legnica and Wrocław. Regional buses also connect Jawor to major cities in the area.

Entrance to the church costs 12 PLN. It's possible to request an English-language informational audio about the history of the church, which will be played over the speakers while you visit. This audio history is also available in a selection of other foreign languages (e.g. German).