St. Martin's Collegiate Church in Opatów

The Collegiate Church of St. Martin in Opatów, located in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, is the city's most valuable historical monument, dating back to the second quarter of the 12th century. Although there is no documentation regarding its foundation, Prince Henry of Sandomierz and the orders of the Templars, Cistercians, or Benedictines are considered possible founders. The church is built in the Romanesque style, with Gothic elements and later Renaissance and Baroque additions. Its three-nave basilica with a transept, two western towers, and three eastern apses features a stunning Romanesque portal and decorations with reliefs. The interior of the collegiate church is adorned with Baroque polychromes, historical paintings, and an altar painting of the Madonna and Child attributed to Timoteo Viti. Also noteworthy is the Renaissance tomb of Chancellor Krzysztof Szydłowiecki, decorated with the bronze relief "Lament of Opatów" (Lament Opatowski). The wealth of artworks is complemented by valuable liturgical objects and a rich library collection containing old prints and manuscripts. The collegiate church has undergone numerous renovations, including repairs following damage from a fire in 1502. A comprehensive renovation is currently underway, which has uncovered new paintings, and the planned rectory is named after one of the initiators, Father Antoni Gnoiński. An interesting discovery in 2003 was the tomb of Baltazar Sobek, whose inscription commemorates his wife Maryna, linking the collegiate church to the local elites of that time. Despite the damages, the collegiate church remains an important place of worship and a historical symbol of Opatów, continuing to attract the attention of tourists and researchers.