Turek: Mehoffer Art and City History
Accommodation in Turek
Turek brings together church architecture, art and city history, with opportunities to explore the city on your own. Those planning a trip filled with cultural discoveries will find a range of themes here: the works of Józef Mehoffer, historic architecture and an exhibition on traditional textile crafts. Routes in the surrounding area may also be of interest. This makes it possible to choose Turek as a destination based on your own interests.
Mehoffer, Churches and Museum
The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Turek was built in the Neo-Gothic style from 1904 to 1913. Its interior was created by Józef Mehoffer. This includes polychrome decoration and some of the stained-glass windows, dating from 1933 to 1939. The building therefore brings together architecture and artistic design, while the dates refer to different stages: the construction of the church and the later work on parts of its interior.
The Józef Mehoffer Museum explores this connection in its permanent exhibition, “Turkowskie dzieło Józefa Mehoffera” (Józef Mehoffer’s Work in Turek). In five so-called “red rooms,” it displays sketches and full-scale designs for polychrome decoration and stained-glass windows. The museum also shows the designs used for Mehoffer’s work in the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Those interested in the journey from artistic concept to the church’s decoration can consider both aspects together when planning their trip.
Another of the museum’s themes is traditional weaving and textile crafts in Turek and the surrounding area. The permanent exhibition “Tradycyjne tkactwo i włókiennictwo w Turku i okolicy” (Traditional Weaving and Textile Crafts in Turek and the Surrounding Area) complements the focus on Mehoffer with another aspect of local culture. The exhibitions explore different subjects: designs for religious art in one, traditional crafts in the other. This gives culturally minded travellers more than one possible focus for a museum visit.
Architecture in the Cityscape
The market square area around plac Wojska Polskiego offers another architectural highlight. The historic buildings in their present form date back to the second half of the 19th century. Their features include two- or three-storey buildings and cast-iron balconies with elaborate wrought-iron work. When looking at the façades, it is worth noticing these details in particular: the buildings are distinguished not only by their height, but also by the design of their balconies.
Another historic church in Turek is the Evangelical-Augsburg Church. It was built from 1849 to 1852 to designs by Henryk Marconi. Its construction therefore predates that of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Together with the Neo-Gothic church, Mehoffer’s interior and the market square buildings, it offers a range of ways to explore the city’s architectural history.
Exploring the City and Routes Nearby
Organised groups can visit the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a member of staff from the Turek City Museum. An appointment must be made in advance by telephone. Visits take place during the museum’s opening hours, but not on Saturdays or Sundays. If you wish to plan a visit, bear in mind the group booking requirement and the stated visiting days.
Another way to explore Turek is the “Tour de Turek” Quest. It is a self-guided city tour with written clues and riddles, ending at a hidden stamp. This format relies on finding your own way and solving the challenges rather than following a guide. It therefore offers an alternative to visiting the museum or focusing on individual buildings.
The “Zdrojki” walking and cycling routes also run through the area around Turek. They pass through Zdrojki Forest, Szadowskie Góry and Karpaty, and continue as far as Władysławów. The routes are designed to be easy for residents of Turek and Władysławów to use. When deciding on a trip, this offers a choice between focusing on city history and cultural visits, or exploring the surrounding area on foot or by bike.
The tourist information office in Turek provides information about attractions in the city and its surroundings, and offers publications and maps covering Turek and the surrounding area. The design of the park named after Żermina Składkowska included a pond and a small island.
If you would like to visit Turek for its churches, the Mehoffer exhibition or the historic market square architecture, you can focus your search for a holiday apartment on a stay in the city. You can also explore Dzierżązna, Marcjanów and Kawęczyn as other places in the same navigation section: Dzierżązna, Marcjanów and Kawęczyn.
For the broader travel overview: Turek.
