Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Żagań

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Żagań, located in the Lubusz Voivodeship, is a Roman Catholic parish church belonging to the Żagań Deanery of the Zielona Góra-Gorzów Diocese. Its history dates back to 1183, when it was built during the reign of the Piast duke Bolesław I the Tall. The first written mention of the church comes from a 1272 document by Bishop Thomas II, which describes the size of the archpresbyterates. In the second half of the 14th century, the Canons Regular of St. Augustine constructed a three-nave basilica, which, after multiple fires, was transformed into a hall church. Significant changes took place in 1515, when a new tower was added and the main nave was heightened. After a fire in 1730, the interior was enriched with elaborate sculptural and stucco decorations, while the external architecture, despite numerous modernizations, retained Gothic features, although the loggia exhibits a Renaissance style. The church’s interior houses valuable furnishings, such as stalls from 1695 and a 16th-century Holy Trinity altar. Another important feature is the Gothic tomb of Henry IV the Faithful, Duke of Głogów and Żagań. A museum exhibition located in the gallery above the sacristy adds to the cultural significance of this church, making it not only a place of worship but also a treasury of local history and art. The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Żagań is not only a valuable example of sacral architecture but also a witness to centuries of the region’s history.