Poland boasts plenty of impressive churches, some of them are magnificent like St. Mary’s Church in Gdańsk, and some of them feature very unique elements that may be hidden in an inconspicuous building.
Have you ever seen the pulpit in the shape of a whale?? Located in a picturesque spa town of Duszniki-Zdrój, there is a historic Saints Peter and Paul church that is well known for its unique pulpit, in the shape of a whale with a twisted tail and an open mouth. Its structure relates to the biblical story about Jonah who was saved by the huge fish. This Baroque church was built in the first half of the 18th century but its history dates back to the 14th century. In addition to the whale-stylized pulpit, the church also contains the original stone baptismal font from 1560, the Baroque main altar from around 1730, and many Baroque sculptures and paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries. The church is one of the landmarks in the town and well worth a visit. Moreover, on the same street where the church is located, you can also find the Museum of Papermaking, which was housed in an impressive paper mill that dates from the beginning of the 17th century. Considered one of the highlights of Duszniki, the mill is the only professionally run museum in Poland that’s dedicated to the broad subject of papermaking. If you are a classical music lover, the town is a perfect destination for you as well, for It is home to the annual International Chopin Festival since 1946.
With charming architecture and beautiful natural surroundings as well as unique tourist attractions, the town of Duszniki-Zdrój can be a nice weekend getaway.?
photos: Jacek Halicki/wikipedia
