St. Elisabeth's Church (Wroclaw)

 Gothic (architecture), Brick Gothic (architecture), listed building / architectural heritage, Roman Catholic church

In Wrocław (Breslau in German), Poland, St. Elizabeth's Church (Kościół św. Elżbiety, Sankt Elisabethkirche) is one of the top sites to visit. The first church on this site was founded in the 13th century, and belonged to the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star. and the current Gothic structure was founded by Boleslaw III in the early 14th century. Its spire was 130 meter high when built, and was the tallest tower in Silesia, and among the tallest in the world.

In 1525 St. Elizabeth's became the first Protestant church in Silesia, and Ambrosius Moiban, a personal friend of Luther's, was appointed pastor. Allegedly, this was the result a craps game between the powerful city councilor Heinrich von Rybisch and the Master of the Order of the Red Star, Erhard Sculetus, which the Protestand von Rybisch won. Shortly after, in 1529, the spire collapsed during a strong hailstorm. Catholic citizens said this was God's wrath against the Protestants, while the Protestants said the fact no one (except a cat) was hurt was a sign of God's favor.

Throughout the 18th century the church expanded, with many wealthy citizens adding beautiful epitaphs to its walls, over 300 in total. The main organ was built between 1750-1761 by Gottlieb Ziegler and Michael and Benjamin Engler.

St. Elizabeth's survived the Siege of Breslau without major damage, and after briefly belonging to the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, it passed back into the hands of the Catholic Church in 1946. However, the church suffered severe damage in 3 subsequent fires, the worst in 1976. During this unfortunate event, much of the the church's interior and its renowned organs went up in flames. The reconstructed tower is now only 91 meters high.

In the former churchyard is a monument to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, aa prominent German pastor, theologian, and antifascist. He was arrested for speaking out against Hitler's regime and killed in Flossenbürg Concentration Camp in 1945 by Hitler's personal order.