Kościoły i klasztory: Kołobrzeg

Churches and monasteries in Kołobrzeg include the Gothic co-cathedral basilica, neo-Gothic brick churches, a Greek Catholic church and a chapel from 1945.

Six addresses of very different origins: from a medieval hall church through former Protestant churches to places of worship from the early 21st century. Together they show how the town and its communities changed after 1945.

Which church in Kołobrzeg should you see first?

Start with Bazylika Konkatedralna Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Maryi Panny w Kołobrzegu (the co-cathedral basilica), the main church of the town, at Mariacka 5. It is a Gothic five-aisled brick hall, and since 1972 the co-cathedral of the Koszalin-Kołobrzeg diocese.

Its Gothic furnishings include a seven-armed candelabrum dated 1327 and a baptismal font dated 1355. Nearby, at Katedralna 35, stands Kościół Niepokalanego Poczęcia Najświętszej Maryi Panny w Kołobrzegu (the Immaculate Conception church), popularly called the Little Church by the River. It is a one-nave neo-Gothic church in red brick, a former Benedictine convent church and garrison church, and since 1994 a rectorial church.

Which churches in Kołobrzeg tell the story of the changes after 1945?

Several places of worship changed denomination or purpose. It is a good thread to follow if you want to understand what Kołobrzeg looked like before the war and after it.

Former Protestant buildings

Kościół Podwyższenia Krzyża Świętego w Kołobrzegu (the Holy Cross church) is a modernist church from 1932 in the Kostrzewno district. Until 1945 it was a Protestant filial church of the Marian parish, and since 1972 it has been run by the Franciscans. A bell from 1805 hangs in its tower.

Kościół św. Marcina w Kołobrzegu (ul. Portowa) (St Martin's Church) was built in 2001-2004 by converting a garrison club. It stands on the site of the demolished Protestant church of St Nicholas, and the story of both buildings tells much about the post-war changes of the town.

The place where the town was handed over

Kościół Chrystusowy w Kołobrzegu (Christ's Church) is a building from the 1920s, today a chapel of the Christ Church in Poland. It has a place in the history of the town: on 1 June 1945 the ceremony of handing Kołobrzeg over from the Soviet military authorities to the Polish side took place here.

Is there an Orthodox-rite church in Kołobrzeg?

Yes, Cerkiew Opieki Matki Bożej w Kołobrzegu (the Orthodox church) belongs to the Greek Catholic Church, within the Koszalin deanery of the Wrocław-Koszalin eparchy. The building began as a hospital chapel in the early 1900s and received its consecration as a church on 25 May 1996.

Its facade is classicist, topped with a small bell turret, and since 2014 it has been listed in the municipal register of monuments. It is a small, quiet church, different in character from the brick churches in the centre.

How to visit the churches of Kołobrzeg?

The basilica and the Little Church by the River lie close together, so it is easy to see them on one walk. The other churches are scattered around town, in Kostrzewno, on Portowa Street and in other districts.

Remember that these are active places of worship, so it is worth fitting a visit around services. To combine them with other places, look at monuments of Kołobrzeg, museums or parks and nature. The town as a whole is described on the Kołobrzeg page, and the regional list of such places is the category page.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the co-cathedral of the diocese?

The basilica, which has served as the co-cathedral of the Koszalin-Kołobrzeg diocese since 1972.

What does the nickname Little Church by the River refer to?

The nickname of the church at Katedralna 35, a neo-Gothic building of red brick dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.

Where was the town handed over to the Polish side in 1945?

The ceremony of 1 June 1945 took place in the building that is now the Christ Church.

Is there a Greek Catholic church in Kołobrzeg?

Yes, the Orthodox church in a former hospital chapel, consecrated in 1996.