St Nicholas Cathedral in Bielsko-Biała. Its tower was inspired by the bell tower of St Mark in Venice

St Nicholas’ Cathedral in Bielsko-Biała is the main church of the Bielsko-Zywiec diocese and one of the largest churches in the city. It is located in the Old Town, on St. Nicholas Square, and serves as the parish church for the parish of St. Nicholas.

The first mention of a church at this location dates back to 1443-1447, when Prince Wenceslas I of Cieszyn erected a Gothic church on the site of a presumably wooden chapel surrounded by a cemetery. The construction of the brick church was connected with the transfer of the parish from the church in Old Bielsko to the town of Bielsko, and St Nicholas became the patron saint of the new church. In the years 1559-1630, the church served as a Lutheran temple. After 1630, the church was restored to Catholics as a result of Counter-Reformation activities, but in 1659 the temple was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt in 1751 with funds from Baron Julius Gotlieb Sunnegh, who also founded the new Baroque furnishings.

St. Nicholas Cathedral and cathedral square, 1859. Source: Silesian Digital Library

In the 18th and 19th centuries the church was repeatedly rebuilt and modernised after numerous fires destroyed it. Between 1909 and 1912, a major reconstruction was carried out according to a design by Leopold Bauer, giving the church its current modernist-neo-Romanesque appearance. In 1992, after the creation of the Bielsko-Żywiec diocese, the church was elevated to the rank of cathedral. In 1998, a project by architect Stanisław Niemczyk was completed, adapting the presbytery to the requirements of a cathedral church.

St Nicholas Cathedral combines elements of various architectural styles, from Gothic to Modernism. During reconstruction between 1909 and 1912, its façade was given an art déco style with neo-Romanesque elements and a 61-metre tower reminiscent of the Italian campanile was erected, inspired by the bell tower of St Mark in Venice. The portal of the cathedral is decorated with a statue of Christ surrounded by medallions with images of the twelve apostles. Above it are statues of St. Nicholas, St. Hedwig of Silesia and St. John of Nepomuk by sculptor Othmar Schimkowitz.

The interior of the cathedral is characterised by a rather austere finish and marble floors. The walls and the vault are partly covered with frescoes, and the colour composition of the whole is kept in warm, subdued colours. In the nave, there are Art Nouveau stained glass windows by Rudolf Harflinger from 1912 and other stained glass windows, including those depicting Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński and Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko. The Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa has survived all the church fires. Since 1729, the miraculously famous painting brought from Tokaj by Colonel Teodor Sulkowski has been hanging there. It also houses the relics of St. Nicholas, St. Francis of Assisi, the Children of Fatima, St. John Paul II and Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko.

The Cathedral of St Nicholas in Bielsko-Biała is a place with a rich history and unique in the country architecture, which combines different styles and epochs. It is an important point on the spiritual and cultural map of the city, witnessing numerous historical and religious events.

Source: katedra.bielsko.pl, slaskie.travel

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