Discover Sowno: Renaissance Art and History

• The Church of St Mary Magdalene contains a Renaissance altar and a pulpit with polychrome wooden sculptures from the workshop of Peter Schultz in Nuremberg.
• The altar was brought to the village church in 1720; a bas-relief of the court jester Mikołaj Hinze is also located there.
• Podlesie is now an integral part of Sowno and is associated with the history of Duke Jan Fryderyk’s hunting residence from the second half of the 16th century.
• In the centre, at a road junction, a monument commemorates German soldiers who fell on the fronts of the First World War.

The church furnishings offer a concrete way to explore the art history of the place: Nuremberg woodcarvers created the Renaissance altar and the pulpit with polychrome wooden sculptures in the workshop of Peter Schultz. The bas-relief of the court jester Mikołaj Hinze is another artwork in the church mentioned here. Together, these distinct works make the church an important point of reference if you are interested in Sowno’s cultural heritage.

The altar’s journey is also revealing when placing it in its historical context: it was brought to the village church in 1720. The details about the sculptures’ creation and their later installation refer to different chapters in its history. This makes it possible to consider both craftsmanship and local history without confusing the two dates.

Another feature of the townscape recalls a much later period in history. The monument stands in the centre of Sowno at a road junction and is dedicated to German soldiers who fell on the fronts of the First World War. Its dedication makes it a distinct topic alongside the sacred artworks. Those seeking to understand Sowno through its history will find both a reference to 16th-century art and a monument to those who fell in the World War.

The wooden hunting residence has not survived. Its history is nevertheless connected with Sowno: Podlesie is now an integral part of the town, and the former residence is associated with Duke Jan Fryderyk and the second half of the 16th century. The Church of St Mary Magdalene contains valuable historical furnishings from the residence. This makes it possible to distinguish between the lost building and the objects preserved in the church.

An account by Augsburg art collector F. Hainhofer describes what the residence looked like during his visit. According to the account, the building had two storeys, a chapel on the ground floor, chambers above and a tower that rose above the roof. This is a historical description of the hunting residence, which no longer survives; it should not be confused with a building that still exists today. Two perspectives therefore complement each other: Hainhofer’s recorded impression of the building and the historical furnishings located in the church.

The wider destination of Stargard offers further cultural topics as a distinct context. Stargard’s Church of St Mary and medieval town walls were recognised as a Monument of History by an ordinance of the President of the Republic of Poland dated 17 September 2010. The town walls have survived almost along their entire length, with fortified gates and bastions. A museum exhibition explores the city’s history from its foundation in the 13th century to the beginning of the 18th century. These examples relate to Stargard, not Sowno; they offer a separate urban comparison with Sowno’s church and residence heritage.

Discover more destinations: Pęzino, Żukowo, Insko, Koszewko, Morzyczyn, Dobrzany, Granica and Rogowo.

Which artworks are mentioned in connection with the church in Sowno?

The church contains a Renaissance altar and a pulpit with polychrome wooden sculptures from Peter Schultz’s workshop in Nuremberg, as well as a bas-relief of the court jester Mikołaj Hinze.

Has the hunting residence in Podlesie survived?

No. The wooden hunting residence has not survived. An account by F. Hainhofer describes the former building; the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sowno contains valuable historical furnishings from the residence.

What historical topics does Stargard offer as a separate context?

In Stargard, the Church of St Mary and the medieval town walls are recognised as a Monument of History. A museum exhibition also covers the city’s history from its foundation in the 13th century to the beginning of the 18th century.

For the wider travel overview: Stargard.