The name Turek may bring to mind the nearby lignite mines, or perhaps a very tasty aged cheese. Above all, however, it is best known for one of the most beautifully decorated churches in Poland – a brilliant example of the Young Poland style.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Turek was a prominent centre for cloth-making and weaving crafts. The discovery of lignite deposits in the mid-20th transformed the town into an industrial centre. Today, however, it is above all a town in the spirit of Mehoffer, shaped by the outstanding works of this artist and attractions connected to him. The most significant is undoubtedly the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, built in the early 20th century and adorned with stained glass, polychromes, and oil paintings by Mehoffer – the second-largest and most valuable collection of the artist’s sacred art in Poland after Kraków.
A visit to the Józef Mehoffer Turek City Museum is a must. The exhibition Józef Mehoffer – Known and Unknown Creator marked the start of the project Turek – a Town in the Spirit of Mehoffer, which involved reconstructing and installing the stained-glass windows left unfinished in the 1930s in the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as well as converting the town hall into a museum. The permanent exhibition The Work of Józef Mehoffer in Turek allows visitors to explore the Kraków artist’s creations. In five so-called red rooms, visitors can view sketches and cartoons (designs) for the polychromes and stained glass in the church.
Be sure to visit the nearby mid-19th-century classical-style Evangelical church, designed by Henryk Marconi. Turek’s market square is full of charm, with its Art Nouveau townhouses, the Town Hall, and a fountain. The beauty of this place is appreciated by visitors, but above all by its residents.