Tarnau: St. Martin’s Church and the Salt Tower complex

Tarnau (Tarnów Opolski) offers two clearly distinct themes to consider when planning a trip: the history and furnishings of St. Martin’s Church, and the Salt Tower complex, built in 2019 behind the municipal office. The church brings together several historical periods; the newer complex is distinguished by its wooden pavilion and blackthorn branches. If you are looking for a hotel in Tarnau, these local landmarks offer an initial indication of whether the town matches your travel interests.

Historical landmarks in Tarnau

The town was first mentioned in 1293. St. Martin’s Church in Tarnau is listed in the 1447 Peter’s Pence register of the Strzelce archpresbytery. The two dates refer to different historical points: 1293 to the mention of the town, and 1447 to the church register entry. This makes it possible to distinguish the town’s early history and the church’s history from the much later construction phase of the present-day church.

The construction history of St. Martin’s Church

The present-day Church of St. Martin was built between 1913 and 1916. Part of the previous building was retained, chiefly the presbytery, as viewed from the entrance on the right. The presbytery is the choir or altar area. The present-day building thus combines an early 20th-century construction phase with a surviving part of its predecessor. The construction date and the surviving fabric answer different questions: when the present-day church was built, and which element of the previous building remained.

Altar, baptismal font and ossuary

The furnishings include a Baroque altar with sculptures of Saints Michael, Joseph and Jadwiga. There is also a Rococo baptismal font dating from the second half of the 18th century. Baroque and Rococo represent distinct art-historical styles; the baptismal font predates the construction of the present-day church. An ossuary dating from the 18th and 19th centuries stands beside the church. As a separate structure, it adds another nearby historical landmark to the church’s history. The church therefore brings together its construction history, individual furnishings and a separate adjacent building.

The Salt Tower complex behind the municipal office

The Salt Tower complex stands behind the municipal office in Tarnau, on a green space; the structure was built in 2019. It is housed in a wooden pavilion surrounded by benches, and blackthorn branches cover the structure. Its location, pavilion and covering of branches distinguish the complex from the church, with its historical construction phases and furnishings. It also represents a different period: 2019 contrasts with the older church-related landmarks and the 1913–1916 construction. Tarnau thus offers a comparison between the history of a religious building and a more recent complex.

Cycle route No. 3 and its direction

A municipal description of cycle route No. 3, published in 2020, identifies the flowering square on Św. Marcina Street as the starting point; from there, the route heads towards St. Martin’s Church. This information about the starting point and the route’s stated direction can help with your planning. Check route conditions before setting off, as they may change and the description dates from 2020.

Discover more destinations

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