Church of St. Roch and John the Baptist (16th century) at Brochów, Poland

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Built of red brick, the church in Brochów (at present called St. John the Baptist and St. Roch) is one of the most valuable examples and monuments of Polish ‘defensive’ church architecture. Constructed between the 14th and 16th centuries, it was beautifully and carefully restored very recently, for the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth, and is truly impressive both inside and outside.
The church’s current facilities are almost entirely derived from modern times, as the original church was burned down during the World War I. Very few items survived, among them a wooden crucifix that still hangs in the aisle, as well as fireplaces that were used for cooking food for the church staff and members in times of siege.
The defensive function temple surrounding the church is provided by a two-storey area with embrasure and reinforced windows. By contrast, according to experts, the wall with the corner bastions serves a more symbolic purpose, and its genuinely defensive function is limited.
An interesting fact is the location of towers: two stand at an ending-point on the rise of the two buildings, and another stands opposite. This architecture, though very typical for churches in Italy, is a rarity in Poland.

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Pentacon Six + Kodak 160NC-2