Głubczyce: Churches, History and Landscape

A town hall built with reused building components, a historic organ with more than 60 stops, and a landscape area with river valleys give Głubczyce and the municipality of the same name their distinct character. The town’s architectural history and sacred architecture are in the spotlight; other places in the municipality also have stories of their own. Nature enthusiasts can explore the Mokre–Lewice landscape area and the Głubczycki Forest. You can plan your trip around built heritage, local history or nature.

Architectural History and Churches

Głubczyce Town Hall was built in 1570 on the site of a merchant’s house dating from the 14th century. Building components from the earlier structure were used in its construction. The town hall was destroyed during the Second World War and rebuilt in 2006–2008. The building’s history thus spans its medieval predecessor, the construction of the town hall and its subsequent reconstruction.

The parish Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Głubczyce dates from the second half of the 13th century. Among its notable historical features is an organ with more than 60 stops, made in 1907 by the Gebrüder Rieger workshop. The church building and the organ reflect different periods. The Franciscan church and monastery complex in Głubczyce was built later, from 1753 to 1770, to a design by Jan Innocenty Töpper of Prudnik. The complex comprises a Baroque church and a four-winged monastery arranged around a courtyard.

Architectural history can also be traced through specific dates in other places in the municipality. The Church of St John the Baptist in Chomiąża dates from 1575. The Church of the Holy Trinity in Opawica was built in 1701–1706 and is a Class “O” monument. In Grobniki, the castle dates from the 16th century and was remodelled in the 19th century. The Barbara Chapel in Grobniki dates from 1701.

A spring well is located beside the Barbara Chapel. According to local tradition, it has been credited with miraculous powers since the 17th century. Until the end of the Second World War, the well was one of the larger pilgrimage sites in Silesia.

Landscape and Nature

The protected Mokre–Lewice landscape area covers 6,527 ha and includes part of the Opawskie Mountains. Gorges and the valleys of the Troja, Osobłoga and Opawica rivers are among its landscape features. The area is also rich in nature: rare and protected plants grow there, and protected animals have places of refuge. Its combination of river valleys, gorges and protected nature makes Mokre–Lewice a different kind of attraction from the buildings in Głubczyce.

The Głubczycki Forest lies in the northwestern part of the municipality. It has considerable biotherapeutic value and is important for tourism and recreation. A three-row lime-tree avenue, designated a natural monument, connects the municipal forest with Głubczyce. The avenue is notable not only for the arrangement of its trees, but also for its protected status and its connection between the municipal forest and the town.

Routes and Trip Planning

A section of the Opavice Cycling Route runs from Lewice along a local road and then along a field track towards Zubrzyce. Zubrzyce is part of the municipality of Głubczyce. If you plan to ride this section, check current route conditions before setting out.

The municipality has road connections to the Czech Republic at Pietrowice–Krnov, Pomorzowiczki–Osobłaha, Lenarcice–Linhartovy, Chomiąża–Chomyz, Równe–Slezské Rudoltice, Rusin–Gadzowice, Ciermięcice–Krnov and Opavica–Město Albrechtice. Check the current passability of the respective connection before travelling.

For creative activities, Głubczyce has BRICK FREAK. Its offerings include stop-motion animation workshops and creative and educational LEGO workshops for individuals or groups. These include LEGO ART, LEGO BRICKHEADS and LEGO DUPLO Pociąg do programowania; LEGO bricks are also available to rent. Check the current details of the offerings before visiting.

When choosing a hotel, it helps to first decide what your trip will focus on: would you mainly like to explore the town hall, churches and monastery in Głubczyce, or would you also like to include nature areas and other places in the municipality?

Discover more destinations: Głubczyce, Pilszcz, Kietrz, Debrzyca, Prudnik, Kluczbork, Brzeg, Kędzierzyńsko-Kozielski.

To the main travel overview: Opole.