The Holy Cross Church is one of the most important churches in Poland. Destroyed and rebuilt numerous times over the centuries, the church has been an ever-present witness to Warsaw’s turbulent history. Look inside at the golden altars and see the famous column containing the remains of Chopin’s heart.
The original 15th-century church built on this site was destroyed in the mid-17th century and rebuilt in 1682. Admire the Baroque crowns that top each of the church’s square towers, additions made by architect Józef Fontana in the 18th century. The church was severely damaged during the Warsaw Uprising. The incarnation you see today is a painstaking reconstruction completed after the war.
Notice the enormous sculpture of Christ carrying a cross, located on the staircase at the church’s entrance. During World War II, this statue was thrown into the streets by the Nazis.
When you step inside, look for a column on the left side of the nave, which is decorated with a tablet depicting Chopin. This column contains the urn that holds Chopin’s heart. According to the story, one of the composer’s last requests as he died in Paris was for his heart to be returned to his homeland. His sister managed to smuggle his heart back to Poland while the rest of his body is buried at the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
Examine tablets honouring other important Polish figures who are interred in the church, including Nobel Prize-winning author Władysław Reymont and poet Juliusz Słowacki. Don’t overlook the beautiful Baroque altarpieces, most of which were recovered from the 17th-century church. The church also has an early 20th-century organ, said to be the largest in the city.
Find the Holy Cross Church on Krakowskie Przedmieście, opposite the Copernicus Monument. Reach it on foot from most areas of central Warsaw. The church is open daily. Keep in mind that the church is an active place of worship, so it’s important to be respectful of people who are praying or attending Mass.
