Originally settled in the 7th century, Legnica is an ancient city that’s transformed into an important hub for the copper industry. It’s filled with architectural landmarks in Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles, including several impressive churches, a fortified castle and historic residences transformed into cultural museums.
Things to do in Legnica
Spend a day exploring the historic heart of Legnica, including the red-brick Church of the Virgin Mary and the monumental Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. Admire the Baroque-style Old Town Hall and the Helena Modjeska Theatre, named for the renowned Polish Shakespearean actress. Also of note are the Chojnów and Głogów gates, two surviving remnants of the medieval walls that once enveloped the city.
An architectural highlight of Legnica is the Piast Castle, one of Poland’s oldest masonry forts. It was founded by Prince Henry the Bearded in the 13th century and was largely destroyed during the Battle of Legnica in 1945. In front of the reconstructed castle is a sculpture depicting John of Nepomuk, one of the patron saints of Bohemia.
You can learn about Legnica’s industrial past at the Museum of Copper, which exhibits an impressive collection of copper artwork, religious artefacts and homewares. It occupies the historic Lubiaz Abbot House and stands opposite the Mausoleum of the Silesian Piasts, an octagonal chapel that forms part of the Church of St. John the Baptist.
Getting around Legnica
Legnica is around an hour’s drive from the centre of Wrocław and Wrocław Nicolaus Copernicus Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses travel throughout Legnica while trains connect from nearby towns and cities to the Legnica railway station. The centre of Legnica is ideally explored on foot.