The Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica are situated about 77 km from Wrocław, the capital city of Lower Silesia in Poland. The churches were built after the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, a peace treaty that largely ended the European wars of religion. The Churches of Peace were named after the Peace of Westphalia. The Roman Catholic authorities in Silesia permitted Lutheran Protestants to build three Evangelical churches from wood and clay, without steeples and bells, and outside the town walls. The time of construction was limited to just one year. The Church of Peace in Glogów was built in 1651, but this church burned down in 1758. The Church of Peace in Jawor was built in 1654-1655, the church can accommodate about 6000 people. The Church of Peace in Świdnica was built in 1656-1657 and can accommodate about 7500 people. The unique Baroque interior of the Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica is richly decorated. Most of the work of art that adorn the two Churches of Peace was created by Silesian artists. The remaining two Silesian Churches of Peace are the largest religious wood-and-clay buildings in Europe. As the result of the Potsdam Conference in 1945, the towns of Jawor and Świdnica became part of Poland. The Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 2001.
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The Church of Peace in the town of Świdnica in Poland is the largest wooden Baroque church in the world. The interior of the church is adorned with Baroque paintings depicting scenes from the apocalyptic visions of St. John the Evangelist, the paintings have been preserved intact. The Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica were built after the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. The Churches of Peace were named after the Peace of Westphalia. The Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica were declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 2001.
