St. Bartholomew's Church in Smolnica

The Cemetery Church of St. Bartholomew in Smolnica is a historic wooden Catholic church located in the parish cemetery in Gliwice County. Its history dates back to the first mention of the parish in 1376, though it regained its independence only in 1948. The church, originally built by Lutherans in 1600, has unclear dating; dendrochronological studies indicate its construction between 1776 and 1777. It features a log structure and a tower with a post-and-beam construction, which may have previously served as a free-standing belfry. The church has been renovated several times, with its latest restoration beginning in 2007 after years of neglect. The interior, currently under conservation, houses only historic organs and pews, and after the completion of the work, paintings of Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Bartholomew will be placed there. In the past, the altar contained the "Smolnice Triptych," painted on wood around 1600, part of which was lost after World War II. The church is part of the Wooden Architecture Trail of the Silesian Voivodeship and the Century of Tourism Trail, highlighting its cultural significance in the region. Surrounded by a stone wall, along with a stone cross from 1882 at the entrance, it creates a unique historical space.