Church of the Holy Spirit

The Church of the Holy Spirit stands on Długa Street in Łowicz, at the intersection with Stanisławskiego and Kurkowa streets, surrounded by a wall. It is the oldest brick-built church in the city and remains an active parish church.

Hospital chapel, then parish

The building was erected in 1404 as a chapel attached to a hospital. In the same year, Archbishop Mikołaj Kurowski designated it as a parish church for Łowicz's New Town, a status that it has retained to this day.

Gothic form and rebuilding

The church has a single-nave layout with a narrower chancel typical of Gothic architecture. In 1559, a chapel of the shoemakers' guild was added to the south, and in 1778 the western elevation was rebuilt, giving it its present shape.

Tower with onion dome

The tower was built in 1620 by Archbishop Wawrzyniec Gembicki, and in 1904 it was expanded by Konstanty Wojciechowski. It is crowned with a Baroque dome in the shape of an onion, visible above the roofline of Łowicz's New Town.

History of fires

The church caught fire several times: in 1559, 1656, in the years 1704–1709 and in 1753. Each fire necessitated repairs and partial rebuilding, which is why the present structure combines elements from different centuries. In this part of Łowicz, on Podrzeczna Street, there also stands the former Dominican monastery, now the seat of a school.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Długa 3, 99-400 Łowicz
• Getting there: Łowicz city centre, at the intersection of Długa, Stanisławskiego and Kurkowa streets
• What to expect: an active parish church with regular masses, Gothic structure with a Baroque tower
• Mass times and visiting hours are best confirmed directly with the parish before your visit