Nowe Rybie between Beskid Wyspowy and a Gothic parish church

Nowe Rybie lies in the northern part of Beskid Wyspowy, between three peaks: Kamionna Góra to the east at 805 m, Kostrza to the west at 730 m, and Zęzów to the south at 705 m. Kamionna Góra is the highest of the three; Kostrza is 75 m lower and Zęzów 100 m lower. The elevation difference between Kostrza and Zęzów is 25 m. This makes it possible to distinguish the peaks by both their direction and their elevation. Together, they mark different sides of the village and give its geographic location a concrete framework.

A Gothic parish church with medieval origins

The Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross is part of Nowe Rybie’s cultural history. It is a stone Gothic parish church, plastered and roofed with sheet metal. Gothic refers to the style, stone to the building material, plaster to the surface, and sheet metal to the roofing. The church was probably originally built in the second half of the 14th century and has been renovated several times. The original construction date remains a probable estimate; the renovations are also later phases in its building history. This allows its medieval origins and subsequent changes to be distinguished without assigning the church to just one period.

Altar and furnishings from different centuries

Different styles and periods come together at the main altar. The main altar of the Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross and the Holy Trinity in Nowe Rybie is Rococo and dates from the late 18th century. It contains a Baroque sculpture of the crucified Christ. The altar and sculpture are therefore part of the same furnishings, but are classified in different styles: the altar is Rococo, while the figure of Christ is Baroque. The furnishings also include a wooden baptismal font from the 16th century and a Rococo pulpit from the 18th century. The baptismal font is thus the earliest dated piece; the pulpit and altar date from the 18th century, with the altar specifically dated to the late 18th century. The furnishings therefore bring together several centuries and different styles.

Renovation and bat conservation

A comprehensive renovation of the church and its surroundings took place from 1993 to 1997. This period marks a dated later phase in the building’s history, separate from its probable original construction in the 14th century. The church attic is also a protected roost for a rare bat species. The building is therefore connected both with architectural and furnishing history and with the protection of this bat roost.

To decide whether Nowe Rybie is right for your hotel trip, the location between the peaks and the parish church offer two different points of reference. The peaks define the village’s geographic setting; the church brings together architecture, historic furnishings, and a protected bat roost. You can therefore consider the landscape and local history as distinct aspects of the destination.

Discover more destinations: Kamienica, Mecina, Szczawa, Mszana Górna, Kasina Wielka, Makowica, Raba Nizna, Pogorzany

For the broader travel overview: Limanowa.