With Dep and Stephane we took a trip for three nights to Kudowa-Zdroj, a town on the border with Czech Republic. In a tiny nearby village, Czermna, is the Skull Chapel.
The Skull Chapel was built in 1776 by a Czech parish priest, Waclaw Tomaszek. It is a mass grave of people who died during the Thirty Year's War, other wars, cholera and syphilis epidemics, and the plague. Because of the large number of dead, there wasn't enough space in the cemetery and people could not keep up with burying the dead. Father Tomaszek decided to build this chapel to honor the deceased and to prevent the further spread of disease, as bodies had been abandoned in the streets. Unfortunately, taking photos is not allowed inside the chapel, but there are plenty of photos online.
But first, on our way to Czermna, we stopped in the town of Nysa for lunch and a little sightseeing.
Church in Nysa:
Inside:
Beautiful Well, one of the oldest wells in Poland, built in the late 1600s:
More of the drive to Kudrowa:
Finally made it to Czerma! The skull chapel is the smaller building on the left:
Cemetery by the chapel:
Skull Chapel:
Inside:
In Czerma, we stayed in a guesthouse, Chata Rysiowska, with a wonderful couple, Basia and Rys.
The guesthouse:
Kudowa-Zdroj is known for its curative water which can be purchased from the springs in town. The downtown is very nice, with parks and cafes.
Curative water:
The park:
Dep standing on the border line between Poland and Czech Republic:
Ducks in Czermna:
The Skull Chapel was built in 1776 by a Czech parish priest, Waclaw Tomaszek. It is a mass grave of people who died during the Thirty Year's War, other wars, cholera and syphilis epidemics, and the plague. Because of the large number of dead, there wasn't enough space in the cemetery and people could not keep up with burying the dead. Father Tomaszek decided to build this chapel to honor the deceased and to prevent the further spread of disease, as bodies had been abandoned in the streets. Unfortunately, taking photos is not allowed inside the chapel, but there are plenty of photos online.
But first, on our way to Czermna, we stopped in the town of Nysa for lunch and a little sightseeing.
Church in Nysa:
Inside:
Beautiful Well, one of the oldest wells in Poland, built in the late 1600s:
More of the drive to Kudrowa:
Finally made it to Czerma! The skull chapel is the smaller building on the left:
Cemetery by the chapel:
Skull Chapel:
Inside:
In Czerma, we stayed in a guesthouse, Chata Rysiowska, with a wonderful couple, Basia and Rys.
The guesthouse:
Kudowa-Zdroj is known for its curative water which can be purchased from the springs in town. The downtown is very nice, with parks and cafes.
Curative water:
The park:
Dep standing on the border line between Poland and Czech Republic:
Ducks in Czermna:
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