Szlaki województw śląskiego i opolskiego

The wooden pilgrimage church of St. Anne in Olesnois one of the most important pilgrimage churches in the Opole diocese, to which inhabitants of the Opole region and all of Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic make pilgrimages. It is situated on one of the pilgrimage routes to Jasna Góra. The wooden temple with a log structure consists of a Gothic main body from the beginning of the 16th century and a part added to it in the second half of the 17th century with a wreath of Baroque chapels, built on a plan unique on a national scale, which resembles a five-petaled rose. This symbolism is associated with the form of a monstrance, and simultaneously with the old name of Olesno, that is, Rosenberg. The chapels are characterized by rich woodcarving craftsmanship – Marcin Snopka, an architect and carpenter associated with the Gliwice guild, is responsible for columns with expressive, twisted shafts, decorated pedestals, and windows in the shape of a square inscribed in a quatrefoil. In the main altar of the church, there is a replica of the Late Gothic triptych "The Great Holy Family" stolen in the 1990s, made at the beginning of the 16th century by master Jakub of Kraków from the school of Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz). The temple also stores a Late Gothic figure of St. Anne Samotrzecia (Saint Anne with Virgin and Child), also called St. Anne of Olesno. The pilgrimage church of St. Anne in Olesno was from the 15th century the most important pilgrimage temple in honor of the saint – the patroness of mothers, women in labor, widows, sailors, the poor, and Christian schools. Its importance diminished only with the growing fame of the basilica and Calvary on St. Anne's Mountain. The creation of the church is associated with a legend about the rescue from robbers of a girl named Anna. Thanks to the intercession of St. Anne, the young woman managed to find shelter inside an old pine tree. In gratitude for saving her life, the family of the rescued hung a wooden sculpture depicting St. Anne on the tree. Soon this place became a place of pilgrimage, and the miraculous pine was used to support the main altar of the temple created at the site of the event. Practical information: The church can be visited on Sundays from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and during indulgence ceremonies. At other times, visits must be arranged by phone: tel. +48 34 358-27-10. Free admission. Sightseeing time: 1 hour. Parking spaces on Leśna Street (ORAS Parking).