Monuments

Psary

In an old manor park, on a Pępicki Potok tributary, among lush greenery, there is one of Europe’s oldest penitential crosses.

This material evidence of a crime from almost 650 years ago is Poland’s fourth highest penitential cross. It is sculpted from granite and has got a symbol of a dagger, an instrument of crime on it. Its dimensions are impressive: the height is 217 cm, the arm span is 112 cm and the thickness is 34 cm. It was carved after murder committed in about 1360. Near the park there are ruins of a viewing tower made of stone and brick and remains of a hunting lodge dated from the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Both structures were erected at the time when Psary belonged to the Hoverden family and then to the Hoverden and Plencken families. Romantic buildings were constructed in order to diversify the arrangement near the park, raise prestige and show distant family roots.

We also suggest seeing the manor complex and land-steward house with an interesting colonnade dated from the 19th century and the baroque church dedicated to the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a decorative frame of the Hoverden Family crest above the vestibule.

Sobocisko

This inconspicuous and quiet village is in fact an old prehistoric hamlet. The fact is evidenced by the finds discovered in a Celtic cemetery which also conceals the graves of Lusatian culture people and graves dated back to the early Middle Ages.

Many items excavated in Sobocisko are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum in Wrocław and the Museum Hall in Oława. Sobocisko belongs to the oldest villages. Apparently it was a market place and was crossed by a trade route from Olomouc through Nysa to Wrocław. It is believed that Saturday was market day, which is reflected by the Polish name of the village. The inhabitants have remained faithful to the Polish identity. The local Catholics were Polish at least by 1678. Sermons and catechisation in two languages, Polish and German were not preached until 1715. This is when the German-like name Zatwitz (Zottwitz) appeared in sources.

It is worth seeing the Gothic church dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary dated from the first part of the 14th century. It houses the late baroque, polychromed, wooden main altar with a painting of the Virgin Mary assumed into heaven surrounded by angels. A wooden polychromed pulpit with a figure of an angel on its top comes from the same period. In the chancel there are Gothic corbels sculptured in sand stone before 1335 and stone window tracery dated from the 15th century.

It is also worth seeing a classic of medieval law: a granite penitential cross attached to the outer side of a church wall, a stone plate with two crosses carved on it on the inner side of the wall and a penitential cross with the right arm broken in the western part of the village.

Osiek

It is one of the gmina’s oldest villages. Attention is attracted by the Gothic and baroque St. Mary Magdalene’s church built in the place of a 13th century church in about 1540 and then enlarged and extended in 1755. Inside the single-nave temple one can admire a baroque, wooden, polychromed main altar with a painting of the patron.

The marble baptismal font, side altars, pulpit and organ prospect date back to the same period. In the southern wall of the chancel there are baroque, sandstone tombstones on the graves of Jerzy Ernst and Monika von Rostock. In Osiek and its vicinity there is the county’s largest concentration of roadside shrines expressing spiritual needs and faith of the past generations.

Gmina Oława has got a number of interesting buildings of historical importance and many peculiarities.

They include St. John’s church in Marszowice built on a wooden framework in 1335, an altar with a scene of Christ’s baptism dated from about 1500 and a knight’s tombstone dated from 1600. In the northern part of the village, on the verge of an old park, there are ruins of a neo-Gothic palace with a very beautiful octagonal tower. On the tower wall there was a cast iron plate showing the motive of three antlers and a standard with an eagle within an oval laurel wreath. It is now renovated and can be admired in the Oława castle. Before 1741 the Marszowice palace was owned by the Hubrig or Hubrich family. In 1741, during the siege of Oława, it was the headquarters of Frederic II of Prussia. In 1833 it became the property of the Eicke and Polwitz families.

In St. Martin’s church in Owczary attention is drawn to the magnificent, baroque main altar and some examples of Gothic stonework – keystones and a sacrament house with iron doors dated from the 16th century.

Whereas in St. Catharine church in Niemil there is a foundation plate built in by Baron von Tsschetschu-Mettich, commander of the Knights Hospitaller, court counsellor and the Emperor’s chamberlain in 1706. The character of the Niemil temple is emphasised by Maltese crossed carved on the window frames and a sonorous sound of a bronze bell dated from 1472 – Poland’s one of the oldest.

The shingled church devoted to the Finding of the Sacred Cross in Godzikowice, with its 17th century sundial, Gothic baptismal font and 14th century granite tombstone with the coat of arms of the Sachenkirch family as well as St. Anthony’s church in Chwalibożyce, mentioned in 1294, are equally interesting. In spite of many alterations it has retained the mood of the time of the Knights Templar, the founders. A stone cross with lily-shaped arms on the top of the chancel commemorates those times.

The half-timbered church devoted the Virgin Mary with Angels in Bystrzyca, with baroque, acanthus-leaved framing of the main altar is also interesting. The altar houses an 18th century painting of the patron and above, a painting of the Trinity.

St. Martin’s church in Marcinkowice with its granite mass, celebrated the 75th consecration anniversary in 2007. One of the most beautiful monuments to pope John Paul II was erected nearby on that occasion. A 14th century, granite baptismal font with the coat of arms of the Borschnitz family, the village’s former owners, and a Gothic tabernacle make a profound impression.

It is also worth seeing the ruins of a Dutch-type wind mill built in about 1870 at Owczary, roadside shrines, penitential crosses at Niwnik and Jankowice and the Stations of the Cross in Niemil and Oleśnica Mała.

Walking and cycling enthusiasts will enjoy their trips along the “Via regia” route. Marked with a white shell, the route symbolises the St. James’ Way and goes through the gmina along two paths, crossing Psary, Jankowice Małe, Oleśnica Mała, Jakubowice, Niemil, Bolechów, Marszowice, Zabardowice and Sobocisko and other places. This is part of the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, that has been restored throughout Europe.

Tourist are welcome to the holiday centre on the Smortawa in Bystrzyca and studs at Stary Otok, Lizawicach and Gać, where horse-riding lovers will find well-groomed horses and trainers who offer their assistance.

Pictures

Penitential cross in Psary - fot. Z. Jakubowicz	Viewing tower in Psary - fot. Z.Jakubowicz	Church in Sobocisko	Church in Osiek
Palace in Marszowice - fot. Z.Jakubowicz	Church in Owczary - fot. Z.Jakubowicz	Historical bell of Niemil - fot. Z.Jakubowicz	Church in Niemil
Church in Chwalibożyce - fot. Z Jakubowicz	Church in Bystrzyca	Church in Marcinkowice