Granowice: Church of the Sacred Heart, epitaph and cemetery

• The Church of the Sacred Heart dates from the 16th century and combines several architectural styles.
• The tower has a square ground plan and a Baroque spire.
• The epitaph is painted on wood, measures 170 cm high and 140 cm wide, and shows Christ on the Mount of Olives with the deceased below.
• The cemetery around the church was established in the 14th century; its old trees are mostly small-leaved lime trees.
• The filial church of Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa in Granowice was entered in the register of monuments on 25 January 1961.
• The Izba Pamięci Pożarniczo-Sportowej im. Olgi i Poli in Granowice opened on 28 May 2022.

The Church of the Sacred Heart combines several architectural styles and dates from the 16th century. Its architecture therefore cannot be reduced to a single stylistic feature. The tower can be described more specifically: it has a square ground plan and a Baroque spire. The ground plan and spire refer to different aspects—the shape of the tower and its uppermost part. If you are interested in architectural history, this offers a clear way to approach it: first, the stylistic variety of the church building, then the distinctive form of its tower.

A closer look at the history of art leads to the epitaph from 1619. It is painted on wood and measures 170 cm high by 140 cm wide—so it is taller than it is wide. It shows Christ on the Mount of Olives with the deceased below. Three aspects come together in understanding it: the wooden support, the portrait orientation and the sequence of figures depicted. The epitaph can thus be considered in terms of its material, dimensions and subject.

The cemetery around the Church of the Sacred Heart was established in the 14th century, while the church dates from the 16th century. Their dates can therefore be compared directly: the cemetery grounds belong to an earlier century than the church. The cemetery has old trees, mostly small-leaved lime trees, which are considered to have particular landscape value. This adds another perspective on the site alongside its architectural and artistic features: the cemetery landscape, too, contributes to its character.

The dates relate to different events. The filial church of Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa in Granowice was entered in the register of monuments on 25 January 1961. The Izba Pamięci Pożarniczo-Sportowej im. Olgi i Poli, by contrast, opened on 28 May 2022. The first date refers to the filial church’s entry in the register; the second, to the opening of the Izba. If you plan to visit the Izba, check in advance whether a visit is possible.

Discover more destinations: Jastrowiec, Męcinka, Chełmiec, Paszowice, Kondratów, Bolków.

How large is the epitaph and what does it show?

It is 170 cm high and 140 cm wide. It depicts Christ on the Mount of Olives with the deceased below.

What trees grow in the cemetery?

The old trees are mostly small-leaved lime trees; they are considered to have particular landscape value.

What should you know before visiting the Izba?

The Izba opened on 28 May 2022. Check in advance whether a visit is possible.

For the broader travel overview: Jawor.