The Wang Church is undoubtedly one of the greatest tourist attractions of the Karkonosze Mountains, and at the same time an object of great historical and artistic value. For this reason, it is often visited by tourists and lovers of art and history.
The Mountain Church of Our Savior in Karpacz is better known as the Wang Temple or the Wang Church. It is an Evangelical-Augsburg parish church located in the village Karpacz, on the slope of Czarna Góra (885m above sea level), halfway from Karpacz Dolny to Śnieżka.
Wang temple - history
Wang Temple is a historic wooden church. It owes its exceptional popularity to its origin. In 1842, the temple was moved to the Sudetes from the Norwegian town of Vang, located in the mountains, by the lake of the same name. Hence the name of the church.
The foundation of the church dates back to the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries. For the next centuries, he served the faithful in the local parish. In the 19th century, however, it became too small for the local population and required repairs. The king of Prussia, Frederick William IV, became interested in this wonderful product of Nordic art, having been informed about the find by the Norwegian art expert and painter, Jan Christian Dahl. Frederick wanted to donate the temple to the Royal Museum in Berlin. The church was dismantled and in 1841 transported in crates, initially to Szczecin, then to Berlin. However, the king changed his mind - he wanted the temple to continue to serve sacred purposes. Thanks to the encouragement of Countess Fryderyka von Reden from Bukowiec, the building was located in Karpacz Górny. The local Evangelical community did not have its own church at that time. The land on which the building was erected was donated to the community by Count Christian Leopold von Schaffgotsch from nearby Cieplice. On July 28, 1844, the church was officially opened. The king and his wife graced the ceremony with their presence.
Wang Church - architecture
Wang is made entirely of very durable wood, from Norwegian pine logs soaked in resin. Only carpentry joints were used to connect the beams, without a single nail. It was made according to the pole technique, popular at that time in Norway. The Wang Church is distinguished by its architecture throughout Poland. It is also considered to be the oldest wooden church in Poland. Its style - unique in our area - combines elements of Nordic and Romanesque architecture.
In the 19th century, during conservation works, the church was significantly enlarged. Among other things, a high stone tower was added - a belfry, designed to protect the building from mountain winds. It was created from the so-called Silesian granite, which gave the building a local character.
Inside the Wang temple we will find many original decorative elements. At the door, on half-columns, there is a tangle of snakes and plants, and the entrance is guarded by lions on capitals. In addition, when visiting the church, we can also see winged dragons, Viking faces with protruding, split tongues, gargoyles, dragon mouths or runes - a script used in Scandinavia during the construction of the temple.
The uniqueness of the building makes it a must-see for every tourist visiting the Karkonosze Mountains. In addition, from the hill on which the temple is located, there is a beautiful view of the mountains.
Wang temple - curiosities
- The Wang Temple is a so-called stave church - only a dozen or so buildings of this type have survived to this day in the world.
- Wang is 19 meters high and 9 meters wide, with towers 22 and 24 meters high.
- The decorations of the temple are modeled on those from Viking boats.
- Apparently, even fragments of Viking boats were incorporated into the walls of the temple.
- The columns standing in the middle of the nave and the side nave were supposed to have served as masts on Viking ships.
- The Wang temple is known as the "church of happy marriages" - on both sides of the altar there are candelabra depicting swans, which is a symbol of fidelity, and a heart, which is a symbol of love. Candles in them are lit only during wedding ceremonies, and this is what ensures the durability of the relationship.
- Famous artists are buried in the cemetery next to the temple, e.g. Tadeusz Różewicz and Henryk Tomaszewski and victims of the mountains. There is a beautiful view of the Giant Mountains from here.
- In the temple there is a commemorative plate with an epitaph dedicated to Countess von Reden.
- Every year, the temple is visited by about 200,000 tourists.
Wang Church - information for tourists
- The church is located in the upper part of the city, on the slope of Czarna Góra at ul. On Śnieżka 8 in Karpacz.
- At the temple there is a starting point to the Samotnia Shelter and to Śnieżka (blue trail) and to Pilgrims and Słonecznik (yellow trail).
- The church is open to visitors all year round.
- Sightseeing is possible on weekdays from 9:00-18:00 from April 15 to October 31.
- In the period from November 1 to April 14 on weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00.
- On Sundays and holidays, the church can be visited at approx. 11:30 a.m. after the service.
- Sightseeing is payable - the cost of the ticket is PLN 12 for adults, PLN 7 for children from 6 years of age and students up to 26 years of age.
- If we want to take photos or record the building, we have to pay an additional PLN 5.
- Near the temple there are paid parking lots, a bus stop, food outlets and souvenir shops.
Directions from Dwór Korona Karkonosze:
Frequently Asked Questions
Temple Wang Karpacz price list?
There is a fee to enter the Wang Church in Karpacz. A normal ticket costs PLN 12, a discounted ticket for students aged 7 and up to 26 PLN 7. It is worth remembering that during the summer Wang is very popular and there may be many people willing to visit.
Wang church sightseeing?
Yes, Wang Church can be visited. The church is one of the most valuable monuments of wooden architecture in Poland and attracts tourists from all over the world. Inside the church you can admire beautiful paintings and high-quality sculptures and woodcarving elements. It is worth paying attention to the style of the building, which combines Romanesque, Gothic and Byzantine elements.
Where is the temple of Wang from?
The Temple of Wang (Wang Church) is located in Karpacz, in the Karkonosze Mountains. It comes from Norway, from the town of Vang, from which it took its name. It was built in the 12th century and served the local community for many centuries. It came to Karpacz only in the 19th century.