Concrete revelations. Modernist sacred architecture in Greater Poland in the 1970s and 1980s as a potential for the development of architectural tourism

Abstract

This article explores the tourism potential of selected modernist and brutalist churches built in Greater Poland during the 1970s and 1980s, positioning them as valuable yet underappreciated elements of cultural and architectural heritage. Drawing on recent theoretical perspectives in cultural and architectural tourism, the study proposes an alternative route connecting sacred modernist architecture in medium-sized cities such as Kalisz, Konin, Gniezno, Piła, and Ostrów Wielkopolski. The article argues that the aesthetic and historical distinctiveness of these churches — often located in peripheral districts and associated with the socio-political realities of the Polish People’s Republic — creates an opportunity to develop niche forms of tourism. These routes can appeal especially to younger audiences seeking unconventional experiences and new ways of interpreting 20th-century heritage. By combining architectural appreciation with historical awareness, such initiatives can contribute to the revitalization of local cultural narratives and regional tourism strategies