Discover Rykoszyn: Village History and Church Architecture

• The temporary chapel was built within a month in 1982 and consecrated on 29 May of the same year.
• Construction of the parish church began in 1983; the Parish of St. Maximilian Kolbe was established by decree on 23 January 1984.
• Around 1700, the Tarło family moved into a manor house in Rykoszyn after the troops of Charles XII damaged the castle in Piekoszów.
• A historically recorded route section runs for 11 km from Chęciny via Polichno and Góra Miedzianka to Rykoszyn.

The dates tell the story of several distinct steps. A temporary chapel was built in 1982; its construction took one month. Its consecration on 29 May of the same year was also part of this early phase. Construction of the parish church began in 1983. The Parish of St. Maximilian Kolbe was then established by decree on 23 January 1984.

The chapel, the start of construction on the parish church, and the establishment of the parish were not the same event. If you are interested in how the place developed, this sequence provides a concrete starting point: it leads from the construction of the temporary chapel, through the start of the church building work, to the founding of the parish.

The motif of the broken-open cross in the church interior features two materials and design elements: a cross clad in golden Venetian mosaic and a polychrome wooden sculpture of Christ crucified. The combination of mosaic and painted wood makes the description of the motif concrete. Those interested in sacred art will find a named detail here that differs from the historical dates marking the church’s construction.

Rykoszyn thus offers several perspectives: the chronological development of the parish and a single motif in the church interior. One tells the story of construction and institutional founding, while the other reveals the artistic design. Both aspects help ensure the church’s history is not reduced to a date or a building.

Around 1700, a manor house stood in Rykoszyn, and the Tarło family moved into it. The move is linked to the damage inflicted on the castle in Piekoszów by the troops of Charles XII. This event connects the history of the manor house to a specific reason and a named family. It adds an earlier milestone to the much later events surrounding the chapel, parish church, and parish.

Another historical memory is associated with the celebration of the village’s 700th anniversary: a commemorative plaque was unveiled at the monument to Marshal Józef Piłsudski on that occasion. For orientation, this remembrance connects local history with a named monument.

The historic route section is 11 km long and runs from Chęciny via Polichno and Góra Miedzianka to Rykoszyn. The sequence names the stops along the section and its endpoint. It therefore offers an additional perspective on Rykoszyn alongside the information about the village and church history.

Discover more destinations: Snochowice, Płucki, Chrusty, Łopuszno, Bęczków, Huta Nowa, Nowa Słupia, Piekoszów.

When was the temporary chapel built and consecrated?

It was built within a month in 1982 and consecrated on 29 May of the same year.

When was the parish established and construction of the parish church begun?

Construction of the parish church began in 1983. The Parish of St. Maximilian Kolbe was established by decree on 23 January 1984.

Which places are named along the historic route section?

The 11 km section runs from Chęciny via Polichno and Góra Miedzianka to Rykoszyn.

Go to the main travel overview: Kielce.