The architectural history of All Saints Church in Babice ranges from early references and a foundation to the present-day brick church; at the same time, two named routes pass through the village. These offer two different perspectives for planning a trip: sacred architecture and art on the one hand, and specific route details on the other. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Babice, you can first decide which focus should shape your stay.
All Saints: several historical stages
The oldest records relate to different historical points of reference. The parish of Babice was first mentioned in 1337, and All Saints Church in 1470. The first date refers to the parish, the second to the church building; a first mention should not be equated with a construction date. Around 1524, Bishop Jan Konarski founded a new All Saints Church in Babice. The present-day brick church was built in 1763 after a fire. The parish history, the church's early mention, its foundation, and the construction of the present-day church should therefore be understood as distinct stages.
Between 1891 and 1898, the church was substantially expanded: the nave was lengthened and two chapels were added, creating a kind of transept. A transept runs perpendicular to the nave; the added chapels therefore increased more than just the building's length.
Architecture and furnishings
The interior furnishings are Baroque and Rococo. The bell tower is also Baroque, built of brick, and two storeys high. The furnishings also include a Baroque baptismal font dating from the second half of the 18th century. The interior, tower, and font offer different architectural and decorative points of interest.
A side altar contains paintings of the Immaculate Conception and the Guardian Angel by Wojciech Eljasz; the Stations of the Cross are also his work. The rectory of the church contains fragments of an early Baroque altarpiece created by Mikołaj Przybysławowicz of Kraków in 1662. The altarpiece and the baptismal font belong to different periods: the altarpiece was created in 1662, while the font dates from the second half of the 18th century. The altarpiece predates the present-day church building.
Two routes through Babice
The blue Kraków–Moravia–Vienna Greenway cycle route passes through Babice at kilometre 14.7. This figure locates Babice along the named route. The green Lipowiec Trail also runs through the village. Along the indicated route, the school at ul. Parkowa is 0.7 km from Lipowiec Castle.
The two measurements answer different questions: 14.7 marks Babice's position on the Greenway, while 0.7 km is the distance along the route between the castle and the school. They should therefore not be compared as two total route distances. If you are planning to take the Lipowiec Trail, check the current route and conditions in advance.
Discover more destinations: Libiąż, Lgota, Oświęcim, Młoszowa, Chrzanów, Zagórze, Trzebinia, Żarki.
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