Attraction in Wrocław

St. Elizabeth's Church (Garrison Church)

A Gothic red-brick church at the northwest corner of Wrocław's Market Square, with a tower of about 91.5 metres and a viewing gallery reached by climbing over 300 steps.

Reviewed and updated July 2026

St. Elizabeth's Church (Garrison Church) — Photo: Andrzej Otrębski / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

St. Elizabeth's Church, also called the Garrison Church, is a large Gothic red-brick church at the northwest corner of Wrocław's Market Square, and people visit chiefly to climb its tower for sweeping views over the Old Town. The tower rises about 91.5 metres and has a viewing gallery roughly 75 metres up, reached by climbing more than 300 steps. It is one of the city's tallest and most recognisable towers, and its brick walls still carry damage from the Second World War.

Climbing the tower

The main reason most visitors come is the climb to the viewing gallery, set around 75 metres up the tower. Getting there means more than 300 steps up a narrow stone staircase, so it suits people who are steady on their feet. From the top you look out across the Market Square and the wider Old Town, taking in one of the best high vantage points in central Wrocław. Check official channels before you go, as tower access can depend on the day and the season.

A Gothic church marked by war

The church was built mainly in the 14th and 15th centuries in Gothic style, using the red brick typical of this part of Poland. Its walls and interior still bear damage from the Second World War, a reminder of how much of Wrocław was fought over and rebuilt. Standing at the northwest corner of the Market Square, the building anchors that side of the square and its tower is visible from across the Old Town.

Reformation and garrison history

St. Elizabeth's is tied closely to Wrocław's Reformation history, having served as a Protestant church in a city where the Reformation took strong hold. It later became a garrison church, used by the military, which is why many locals still know it as the Garrison Church. That layered past, medieval Catholic foundation, Protestant worship and military use, sets it apart from the other churches around the square.

Fitting it into a Wrocław visit

Because it sits right on the Market Square, the church is easy to fold into a day exploring the Old Town, and the tower climb pairs well with wandering the square itself. It works for history-minded travellers and for anyone who wants a view over the city without leaving the centre. See our Wrocław guide for more on what surrounds it.

Good to know

The viewing gallery is reached only on foot by climbing over 300 steps, so allow time and wear sturdy shoes; confirm current opening times through official channels before visiting.

Frequently asked questions

The tower rises about 91.5 metres, and the viewing gallery sits around 75 metres up. It is one of Wrocław's tallest and most recognisable towers.

Reaching the viewing gallery means climbing more than 300 steps. There is no lift, so the climb is on foot up a stone staircase.

It served as a Protestant garrison church, used by the military, which is how it earned the name. The church is also tied to Wrocław's Reformation history.

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