St Bartholomew's Church

The Church of St. Bartholomew is one of the oldest buildings in Drohobych and a vivid example of how a completed structure was rebuilt into a church. In part, the church consists of the remains of the building of the princely voivode. Its bell tower is a rebuilt defensive tower from the 13th century. At the same time, a new altar was built, the roof was lowered, and the loopholes of the former defensive tower were destroyed. On the church wall, you can see a triptych depicting a cut-off foot, head and hand. This is how, according to the tradition of Polish churches, the patron saint of Poland was depicted.

Photo from the website templesua2.jimdofree.com

The church has always aroused the interest of historians and archaeologists. This is understandable, since the Church of St. Bartholomew was a witness to many important historical events. Numerous valuable archaeological finds were made on its grounds: a silver coin from 1661, elements of jewelry, coins, and more. Thanks to restorations, the building has been well preserved to this day and conveys the spirit of past centuries well.

Interesting facts:

• There is a legend that there used to be a pagan sanctuary on the site of the church.
• According to legend, the remains of a broken idol are in the church walls.
• The church was built by order of King Jagiello, who in 1392 ordered the construction of a new Catholic temple.