Tarnau is mentioned in 1293. At St Martin’s Church, different periods come together: the church is recorded in 1447 in the Peterspfennig register of the Archpresbytery of Strzelce, while the present building dates from 1913 to 1916. Part of the predecessor building was preserved. The Salt Tower complex and Cycle Route No. 3 add another local landmark and a specific route reference. Local history, sacred architecture and the direction of a cycling route thus offer three different perspectives on Tarnau.

St Martin’s Church: Construction History and Interior

The present church was built between 1913 and 1916; part of the predecessor building, especially the presbytery, was retained during its construction. Seen from the entrance, it is on the right. The preserved presbytery provides a tangible point of reference for the building’s history: part of the predecessor building is incorporated into the present structure. The presbytery’s position also helps with orientation, as it is on the right when viewed from the entrance.

Details include a Baroque altar with sculptures of Saints Michael, Joseph and Jadwiga, as well as a Rococo baptismal font dating from the second half of the 18th century. Next to the church is an ossuary dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Baroque and Rococo represent two different styles in the church’s interior; the altar figures and the date of the baptismal font provide specific points of reference. The adjacent ossuary adds another historic building to these features of the church. This offers culture-focused travellers a subject in which the furnishings, styles and historical periods can be distinguished.

The Salt Tower Complex and Local Orientation

Another local landmark is located behind the municipal office: the Salt Tower complex, built in 2019, stands in a wooden pavilion on a green square surrounded by benches. The structure is covered with blackthorn branches. Here, the location and exterior design are the focus, whereas at St Martin’s Church the focus is on construction phases and interior features. The Salt Tower complex is listed as having free access around the clock. If you are relying on this access information for your plans, confirm it locally before your visit.

Cycle Route and Other Buildings in the Municipality

Cycle Route No. 3 adds a specific point of orientation to the cultural context. The municipal description, published in 2020, starts at the flower-filled square on Św. Marcina Street and leads from there towards St Martin’s Church. The starting point and the stated direction towards the church give the route a clear connection to the area; it therefore has a different focus from the details of the historic buildings. As route conditions may change, check the route before setting out.

Those who also explore the rest of the municipality can distinguish two other historic buildings. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Nakło was built between 1938 and 1940. In Przywory, the railway station opened in 1912; its architecture sets it apart. Both buildings are in other places within the municipality and should therefore be distinguished from the sights in Tarnau. This leaves St Martin’s Church and the Salt Tower complex as local landmarks, while Nakło and Przywory offer a separate regional addition.

Discover more destinations: Comprachtschütz, Szczedrzyk, Stare Siołkowice, Krasiejów, Proskau, Czarnowąsy, Chronstau, Łubniany

For the higher-level travel overview: Opolski.