Inowrocław - Kościół Imienia Najświętszej Maryi Panny

In 1185 the village was mentioned as "Novum Vladislaw", probably founded by inhabitants of Włocławek who had fled from the regular floods. It received the town rights in 1238, just before a year later the town was burned down by the Pomeranians. In 1321, a Polish-Teutonic trial was held in Inowrocław regarding the Teutonic occupation of Gdańsk Pomerania, while the city itself was occupied by the Teutonic Knights from 1332 to 1337. In the 15th century, extensive salt deposits were discovered and the town developed into an important place in medieval Poland.

Inowrocław was occupied and plundered by Swedish troops during the Deluge in the 1650s, and was annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia in February 1772.

Despite Germanisation attempts in the 19th century, the city was an important center of the Polish resistance. It flourished after the establishment of a railway junction in 1872 and a spa in 1875. The city and the region were given the Germanized name Hohensalza in 1904. After WWI Poland regained independence and the historic name Inowrocław was restored.
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Sometimes this church is called "Ruina" (ruin), but it is (today) in good condition. The construction of the church was probably started in the second half of the 12th century, which could be related to the income from salt production. In the beginning, a stone nave and a choir room were built. In the second phase of construction, at the beginning of the 13th century, the brick towers were erected.

The width of 12.40 m is, significant for a single-nave church. Similar churches are known in Brandenburg and Saxony. In1233, a synod, was held here, which suggests that the construction work was completed. In the 14th century, the choir was extended to the east and the semicircular apse was replaced by a polygonal end with buttresses.

From the 16th century on the church began to lose importance and in 1779, the eastern wall of the choir room collapsed along with a part of the vaults. In 1792 the partially collapsed southern tower was rebuilt, and the choir was closed with a straight wall during the reconstruction.

In 1816 the church was closed because of imminent dilapidation. In December 1834 it was destroyed by fire and turned into a ruin. In the early 20th century it was reconstructed and the Gothic choir and Baroque fixtures were removed and the semicircular Romanesque apse was reconstructed.

The outer walls have carvings depicting grotesque human and devilish masks. There are as well carved in graffiti from that time showing strange animals.