Historic architecture can be seen in the churches and a Neoclassical palace in Chynów, Drwalew and Pieczyska. In Chynów, Drwalew and Pieczyska, the religious buildings date from the 15th century to the early 20th century. Larch wood, Baroque floor plans and Neo-Gothic forms offer different insights into architectural history; in Drwalew, a Neoclassical palace adds to the selection.

Churches and Historic Buildings in Chynów, Drwalew and Pieczyska

Chynów: Larch Wood and Older Building Elements

Chynów is home to a historic larch-wood church dating from the 15th century, described as the oldest building of its kind in Masovia. This classification links the building material and early date to a regional comparison. Piotr Pilikowicz, heir to the Skała estate and Voivode of Masovia, founded the parish in Chynów in 1434 and endowed the church.

The present-day church in Chynów was built in the first quarter of the 18th century, using building elements from the 17th century. The construction date and the age of the elements used are therefore distinct chronological reference points: the church dates from a later period but incorporates older building elements. Next to the church in Chynów stands an 18th-century wooden bell tower.

Drwalew: Baroque Church and Neoclassical Palace

The Baroque parish church in Drwalew was built from 1768 to 1774. Its nave is divided into three aisles and comprises three bays; the larger presbytery has one bay. A bay is a section of a building’s structural layout. These details help explain the differences between the three-aisled nave and the larger, single-bay presbytery. Next to the parish church stands a bell tower dating from 1774. In front of the church is a sandstone statue of Saint Dominic, found in Pilica in 1916.

The two-storey Neoclassical palace in Drwalew has a portico with four Ionic columns on its front façade. Above it is a triangular pediment with a coat-of-arms cartouche. On the garden side, a semicircular porch has a terrace supported by six Tuscan columns. The two sides offer a clear comparison of the column orders: Ionic columns frame the front portico, while Tuscan columns support the terrace on the garden side.

Pieczyska: Neo-Gothic Building with Medieval Fragments

The Neo-Gothic church in Pieczyska was built between 1904 and 1908 and incorporates Gothic fragments from the original church, which dates from the mid-15th century. This brings together the style of the later church and older building elements in one place. The church is also a Marian shrine.

Those wishing to compare architectural history will find different points of interest in the three towns: in Chynów, early dates sit alongside an 18th-century church building; in Drwalew, Baroque church architecture meets Neoclassical palace design; and in Pieczyska, Neo-Gothic forms meet medieval fragments. Depending on your interests, the focus may be on the construction period, floor plan or the combination of older and newer elements.

Discover more destinations: Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą, Lesznowola, Warka, Borowe, Michalczew, Budki Petrykowskie, Chynowie, Grójec

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