Churches & Monasteries
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a historic Orthodox church by a former orphanage from the late 19th century, with a golden onion dome
Churches & Monasteries
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the main altar and a 31-stop organ funded by Karol Scheibler, the interior holds six altars in total
Churches & Monasteries
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an 1828 classicist church, originally Lutheran, recognisable by its orange dome
Churches & Monasteries
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a church funded by industrialist Karol Scheibler, a red-brick neo-romanesque building now run by Jesuits
Churches & Monasteries
one of Łódź's two active synagogues, set up in 1998 inside the Jewish community's headquarters
Churches & Monasteries
the only prewar Łódź synagogue that survived the occupation through a sham sale
The centre of Łódź holds places of worship of several faiths at once - Catholic, Lutheran, Orthodox and Jewish - built mostly by factory-owning families in the 19th century. This page gathers them together, for a walk following the city's multicultural history.
The Kościół Podwyższenia Świętego Krzyża (Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross) on Sienkiewicza Street has a main altar and a 31-stop organ funded by Karol Scheibler, and its interior holds six altars. The same factory owner also financed the Lutheran Church of St. John - a Neo-Romanesque red-brick building at Sienkiewicza 60, today run by Jesuits.
The Kościół Zesłania Ducha Świętego (Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit) on Piotrkowska Street is a classicist temple from 1828, originally Protestant, recognisable by its distinctive orange dome. A different denomination is represented by cerkiew św. Olgi (St. Olga's Orthodox Church) on Piramowicza Street - a historic Orthodox church with a golden onion dome, built in the late 19th century next to a former Orthodox orphanage.
Synagoga Reicherów (Reicher Synagogue) on Rewolucji 1905 r. Street is the only pre-war synagogue in Łódź to survive the occupation - thanks to a fictitious sale of the building. On Pomorska Street operates a synagogue arranged in 1998 in the seat of the Jewish community, one of the city's two active synagogues.
All the places of worship described here stand within walking distance in the city centre, close to Piotrkowska and Sienkiewicza streets. The churches are open daily during similar morning and evening hours, the Orthodox church is accessible from the outside around the clock, and the synagogues are best visited during the Jewish community's opening hours. Several of these places of worship have also made it onto the list of atmospheric places in Śródmieście.
Which church in the centre of Łódź was funded by factory owners? The Kościół Podwyższenia Świętego Krzyża and the Lutheran Church of St. John, both thanks to Karol Scheibler.
Where in the centre of Łódź is there an Orthodox church? St. Olga's Orthodox Church on Piramowicza Street, with a golden onion dome.
Have pre-war synagogues survived in the centre of Łódź? Yes, the Reicher Synagogue on Rewolucji 1905 r. Street, the only one to survive the occupation.
How can you recognise the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit? By its distinctive orange dome, visible from Piotrkowska Street.
See also all attractions in Śródmieście, historic monuments in Śródmieście, culture in Śródmieście, churches and monasteries across the region and the map of attractions.
