St Michael the Archangel's Church in Dębno

St Michael the Archangel's Church in Dębno Podhalańskie is a Gothic timber church, one of the best preserved in Poland. In 2003 it was inscribed, together with other wooden churches of southern Lesser Poland, on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It stands at Kościelna 39, surrounded by old trees.

History of the building

The first church in Dębno was probably built in the 13th century, and the first mention of the church comes from a document of 1335. The present church was built in the second half of the 15th century on the site of an older one. The nave and chancel date from that time, and dendrochronological research has confirmed that the building and the roof were erected in the same period. The tower dates from 1601. The church was restored in 1933-1935, and later in 1958-1963.

Construction

The nave and chancel are of log construction, that is, built of horizontally laid beams. The chancel measures about 5 by 5.9 m, the nave about 7 by 8.3 m. The low, 15-metre tower has a post-and-frame structure, and its walls taper towards the top. The roofs and the tower are covered with shingles. The nave and chancel are surrounded by sobota, that is, roofed arcades, present in the church from the beginning but built in their present form at the start of the 19th century.

Polychromes and furnishings

The most valuable feature is the polychrome decoration from around 1500, regarded as the oldest fully preserved polychrome on wood in Europe. It was made in 33 colours and arranged in 12 layouts containing 77 motifs: mainly plant and geometric ornaments, but also animals, above all deer. Above the rood beam can be seen the Jagiellonian eagle.

The high altar holds a triptych from the early 16th century, and the Baroque side altars contain Gothic sculptures from around 1440. On the rood beam hangs a crucifix from around 1380, probably the oldest monument in the church, and on the north wall stands a Gothic tabernacle from the 14th century. In the chancel there usually lie very old small bells of a scale known as the Persian scale, and the church keeps an embroidered banner from the 16th century with an image of St Stanislaus. The original of the oldest easel painting in Poland, from 1280, went to the Archdiocesan Museum in Kraków, and a copy of it hangs in the church.

Nearby

In the area you can see Lake Czorsztyn, about 5 km from the church, and further on the Przełom Białki pod Krempachami nature reserve. The church lies on the Wooden Architecture Route of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship (the Podhale-Pieniny route). In the 1973 television series "Janosik" the hero's wedding was filmed in this church.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Kościelna 39, Dębno (Nowy Targ municipality, Nowy Targ County).
• This is an active parish church. Opening hours for the interior were not established in the sources, so check them with the parish or on the diocese website before your visit.
• In 1996 and 1998 the church was placed on the World Monuments Watch list as a monument at risk of destruction, so care is required inside.