St. Martin's Church in Tarnowskie Góry-Stare Tarnowice

The Church of St. Martin in Tarnowskie Góry-Stare Tarnowice, built in the late 14th or early 15th century, is the oldest church in the city and a valuable architectural monument. Located in the center of the former village, it originally served as a branch of the church in Repty until the establishment of the Tarnowice parish in 1415. The church underwent numerous reconstructions, including a significant one in 1707, when a Baroque chapel of St. Wenceslaus was added, and the interior was reinforced with new vaults and polychromes. In 1728, the tower was renovated, and further works took place in the early 20th century. Since 1902, after the construction of a Neo-Gothic church, it has served as a branch church, retaining its Baroque main altar from the 17th century, along with numerous frescoes and inscriptions that document its rich history. The frescoes, painted in 1707, depict saints and scenes from the life of St. Martin. The interior is also adorned with paintings from the 17th and 19th centuries, as well as Baroque holy water fonts and a baptismal font. An interesting feature is the epigraph on the tower, which confirms the dates of important construction works. The cemetery surrounding the church, entirely preserved in its historical form, is enclosed by a stone wall and includes a small chapel with a statue of St. George. The entire complex is not only an important monument of sacral architecture but also a significant element of local culture and regional history.