Discover the Oder-Warthe region on an extraordinary journey to medieval churches and their stone secrets. The chessboard-shaped route leads through Brandenburg and West Poland, past quiet village churches, impressive cathedrals, and picturesque landscapes. The facades are adorned with elaborately carved granite blocks whose bright and dark fields have been a mystery for more than 700 years.
Each stop combines historical architecture with a quest for details: sometimes the ornamental stone is hidden in an arch of a church, sometimes near a portal or high on the gable. Thus, a trip becomes a cross-border journey of discovery through shared cultural history – ideal for culture enthusiasts, cyclists, and anyone who wants to experience something special off the beaten path.
Churches with checkerboard stones in the Oder-Warthe region
1 Church in Beerfelde
2 Baroque church in Friedersdorf
3 Dom St. Marien, Fürstenwalde / Spree
4 St. Mary's Church Gorzów Wielkopolski
5 Village Church Grunow
6 Church Hasenholz
7 Church Herzberg
8 Village Church Heckelberg
9 Village Church Hönow
10 Village Church Ihlow
11 Church Kowalow
12 Church Ruins in Mallnow
13 Church of Marwice
14 Village Church Prädikow
15 Church Neuendorf im Sande
16 Village church Ringenwalde near Neuhardenberg
17 Heart of Jesus Church in Radów
Images: Horst Drewing
An information brochure on chessboard stones in field fortifications of the Oder-Warthe region was published in German and Polish in 2026, funded by funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the cooperation program INTERREG VI A Brandenburg – Poland 2021-2027 and co-financed by the small project fund of the Euroregion PRO EUROPA VIADRINA.
Brochure „Chessboard stones in medieval fieldstone churches in the Oder-Warthe region“ – German
Brochure „Chess pieces in medieval fieldstone churches in the Oder-Warthe region“ – Polish
Leave a Reply