Nail Village

Gwoździany is a village in the Silesian Voivodeship, whose history is closely tied to the construction of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, made possible by the determination of the local community and parish priest Fr. Stanisław Kras. Until 1976, residents of Gwoździany had to travel 7 km to Dobrodzień to attend mass, which motivated them to take action to establish their own parish. The decision to relocate the wooden Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Kościeliska near Olesno was aimed at preserving this historic sacral architectural monument. Work began in 1976 under the direction of master carpenter Paweł Lorenc, with the assistance of local specialists, earning recognition from the Ministry of Culture. Consecrated in 1979, the church still retains features of log architecture, including original elements from 1576. Architecturally, the structure is fully faithful to the original, situated on a hill with hidden catechetical halls beneath it. Local tradition links the etymology of the name "Gwoździany" to legends about nail production, though reliable sources indicate a broader meaning related to forests, deriving from the Old Polish word "gwozd," meaning "forest." The village's history dates back to at least the 17th century, when it first appeared in documents as "villa Gwozdziani." In the 19th century, Gwoździany was a relatively well-developed village with a mill, brewery, and other infrastructure, and in 1830 it had 268 inhabitants. After World War I, Gwoździany remained on the German side, but after World War II, it became part of Poland. The modern village has about 750 residents and retains its agricultural character. An interesting fact is that the village was home to a charming local tradition, and the well-maintained church remains an important cultural element for the entire community.