St. Anthony's Chapel in Łódź

The Chapel of St. Anthony, located at 75 Wycieczkowa Street in Łódź-Łagiewniki, is one of the few surviving examples of wooden sacral architecture in the region, alongside the chapels of St. Roch and St. Sebastian. Its history dates back to the 1670s, when apparitions of St. Anthony reportedly occurred, prompting the Żeleski family to build a small chapel and invite Franciscans to the area. In 1680, the site was recognized as a place of miracles, and in 1682, due to the growing number of pilgrims, a larger church and monastery were erected. The oldest chapel, dating from 1676, was relocated to the so-called Hermitage. In the 18th century, a Baroque-style brick church was constructed, replacing the original wooden temple. During World War II, only two of the six Franciscan chapels survived, including the Chapel of St. Anthony. In the 1960s and early 2000s, comprehensive renovations were carried out, restoring their former splendor and revealing interesting inscriptions and a second door in the Chapel of St. Anthony, suggesting its historical significance for pilgrims. Today, the chapels are valuable cultural sites, frequently visited by locals and tourists, and are protected as historical monuments.