Sanctuaries and places of worship

Transcription

1 Małopolska 8 UNESCO sites 250 attractions on the Wooden Architecture Route Wadowice town of birth of Pope John Paul II Salt mines in Wieliczka and Bochnia 9 spa resorts 6 national parks 4 geothermal pools Rafting down the Dunajec gorge 2600 km of bicycle trails 3360 km of mountain trails 250 ski runs MAŁOPOLSKA Sanctuaries and places of worship EUROPEAN UNION EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND Project co-financed by the European Union within the Malopolska Regional Operational Programme

2 Rejkiawik Wysowa-Zdrój IS FIN Helsinki S Oslo N Tallin Sztokholm RUS EST Ryga Dublin LV DK IRL LT Kopenhaga GB RUS Londyn Paryż Berlin Warszawa PL D L Praga Luksemburg Lizbona Monako MC I Madryt V RO Zagrzeb HR RSM Bukareszt Belgrad BIH SRB Sarajewo MNE Rzym Kiszyniów H Lublana SLO San Marino MD Budapeszt A CH AND UA Bratysława Wiedeń FL Berno Vaduz Andora Kijów KRAKÓW CZ SK F E Mińsk BY Amsterdam Bruksela B P Wilno NL Podgorica RKS Tirana Sofia BG Priština Skopje MK AL GR TR Ateny M Publisher Department of Tourism, Sport and Promotion at The Office of the Marshal of the Małopolska Province Regional Tourism Information System Team ul. Basztowa 22, Kraków msit@malopolska.mw.gov.pl Text Krzysztof Bzowski Photos A. Błaszczak, P. Fabijański, S. Gacek, J. Gorlach, D. Leśniak, M. Zaręba, D. Zaród, Monastery in Czerna photo archive, UMWM photo archive, Wikimedia photo archive Publishing Amistad Sp. z o.o. Program ul. Stolarska 13/7, Kraków tel./faks: biuro@polskaturystyczna.pl, Production management: Agnieszka Błaszczak, Małgorzata Czopik Project coordination: Katarzyna Thor Publishing concept: Anna Niedźwieńska Editor: Aurelia Hołubowska Proofreading: Agnieszka Szmuc Cover design, graphic design: PART SA Maps: Wydawnictwo Kartograficzne Daunpol sp. z o.o. Typesetting, preparation for print: Michał Tincel Translation and proofreading: EuroInterpret Dominik Moser Kraków 2010, ISBN The authors and publishers have made every effort to ensure the text is accurate, however, they cannot be responsible for any changes that took place after the materials have been prepared for publishing. Materials prepared as of 29 October Małopolska Capital of the region: Kraków Major cities: Tarnów, Nowy Sącz, Oświęcim Surface area: 15,190 km2 (about 5% of the surface area of Poland) Population: 3.28 mil. (about 8% of the population of Poland) Landscape: the tallest peak Rysy: 2499 m asl mountains Tatras, Beskids, Pieniny, Gorce foothills Carpathian Foothills uplands Kraków-Częstochowa Upland lowlands Vistula valley main rivers Vistula, Dunajec, Poprad, Raba, Skawa, Biała water reservoirs Czorsztyński, Rożnowski, Czchowski, Dobczycki, Klimkówka the highest located, cleanest lakes Morskie Oko, Czarny Staw, the lakes of the Valley of Five Polish Lakes the largest and deepest cave Wielka Śnieżna Cave: over 22 km of corridors, 824 m deep

3 MAŁOPOLSKA Sanctuaries and places of worship Monastery in Czerna, photo by D. Leśniak The Christian roots of Małopolska date back to the 10th century. The Christianisation of the region began in 966, with the symbolic Baptism of Poland. The history of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kraków, established as a bishopric during the Congress of Gniezno in the year 1000, is also very closely bound with Małopolska. As a result, a number of churches, monasteries and other places of worship began to be built in the region. One of the first places to attract pilgrims were the hermitage of Sts. Svorad and Benadik in Tropie and Skałka in Kraków a church connected with the cult of St. Stanislaus the Bishop and Martyr. Today, Małopolska is home to dozens of sanctuaries of varying status: from the world-famous Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki to some completely forgotten ones. What gave a new impetus to the development of the pilgrimage tourism was the election of Karol Wojtyła, the archbishop of Kraków, as Pope. Even during John Paul II s pontificate, the places connected with his life attracted crowds of pilgrims. The province also boasts a number of specially marked trails, established to help pilgrims and tourists search for places conducive to religious meditation. 1

4 A4 Kraków Raciborowice Miejsca Places connected związane z Janem with John Pawłem Paul II II Wadowice Niegowić 4 E40 Kalwaria Zebrzydowska 7 28 Stary Sącz Ludźmierz Zakopane John Paul II John Paul II at the age of 12, Wikimedia photo archive When traversing the towns and villages of Małopolska, we are bound to encounter a number of places connected with Karol Wojtyła. The Polish Pope was not only born in Małopolska, but he also grew up, studied and ministered here as priest and then bishop until his election to the Papacy. Karol Wojtyła was born in Wadowice, where he also spent his school years. After graduating from high school in 1938, he moved with his father to Kraków, in order to take up a course in Polish studies at the Jagiellonian University, as well as to pursue his passion for acting. Soon afterwards, however, the outbreak of World War II interrupted the studies of the young and deeply religious Wojtyła. The experiences of occupation and the death of his father led him to the decision to take priestly vows. From 1942, he frequented the underground Metropolitan Theological Seminary in Kraków. He was ordained right after the war in For the next two years he continued his studies in Rome. On returning to Poland, he was assigned to pastoral service in the parish of Niegowić, near Wieliczka. After seven months, he came back to Kraków and became one of the pioneers of the tourist student ministry. He wandered in the mountains and Karol Wojtyła at a canoe trip, Wikimedia photo archive Family house of John Paul II, photo by M. Zaręba took part in canoeing rallies with the academic youth, while continuing his theological studies. In 1958, Karol Wojtyła was anointed bishop. He was then very much involved in the preparatory projects before the Vatican Council II. Only five years later, he became metropolitan bishop of Kraków. In 1967, Pope Paul VI appointed him cardinal. He soon became an internationally known Church authority, philosopher, thinker and theologian. For that reason, the decision of the conclave to elect him as Pope on 16 October 1978 did not come as a surprise for those in the know. The new Pope adopted the name of John Paul II and soon made a number of decisions that broke new ground for the future of the Church. First and foremost, he was the Pilgrim-Pope, who visited all the inhabited continents during his 104 pilgrimages, including eight visits to his homeland. Of immense importance were his actions in favour of strengthening the spirit of ecumenism. He was the first Pope ever to appear in a Jewish synagogue and to pray with Muslims in mosques. He issued fourteen encyclicals, many of them of crucial significance to the Church. The pontificate of John Paul II was one of the longest (outdone only by St. Peter and the Blessed Pope Pius IX) and lasted until his death on 2 nd April

5 Palace of the Archbishops in Kraków, photo by M. Zaręba Wawel Cathedral - interior, photo by M. Zaręba Wawel Cathedral, photo by M. Zaręba Kraków Kraków abounds in places connected with the Pope. It is particularly worth mentioning the Palace of the Archbishops in Franciszkańska Street. This is where Karol Wojtyła lived as bishop and where he stayed as a special guest during his pilgrimages to Poland as John Paul II. Standing at one of the palace windows, he conducted the famous evening conversations with young people. Before the future Pope moved to the palace in Franciszkańska Street, first as priest, then as suffragan bishop in the years , he lived in one of Kraków s most beautiful streets Kanonicza. Today the building hosts the Archdiocesan Museum of Kraków, which displays, among other things, relics and memorabilia related to John Paul II. Visitors can also see the room once occupied by the future Pope. One of the items on display in the room are Karol Wojtyła s skis, testimony to his passion for skiing down the snow-covered mountain slopes, which he kept up even after Right above Kanonicza Street extends the castle and cathedral of Wawel. The Wawel Royal Cathedral of Sts. Stanislaus BM and Wenceslaus M was the place where Karol Wojtyła celebrated his first mass (in the Romanesque vault of St. Leonard). It is also here that Wojtyła was anointed bishop and where his inauguration as the new archbishop of Kraków was held. As Pope, he visited his cathedral seven times. Another important place connected with Karol Wojtyła is Błonia, the district of Kraków famous for attracting crowds during papal services. Today the place where the altar used to be erected is commemorated by a massive boulder. Palace of the Archbishops, ul. Franciszkańska 3, Kraków. Archdiocesan Museum of Kraków, ul. Kanonicza 19 21, \ , / Tue Fri 10am 4pm, Sat Sun 10am 3pm; PLN 5, concessions: PLN 3, family ticket: PLN 12. The Wawel Royal Cathedral of Sts. Stanislaus BM and Wenceslaus M, \ , / Apr Sept, Fri Sat 9am 5pm, Sun 12.30pm 5pm; Oct March, Mon Sat 9am 4pm, Sun 12.30pm 4pm; admission free, tickets required only to visit the clock tower and the royal tombs: PLN 12, concessions: PLN

6 Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Sanctuary of the Passion and of the Madonna of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is one of the places most closely connected with the memory of John Paul II. He used to come here to pay tribute to the Calvarian Lady and to pray in the chapels and little churches along the Calvary Paths, surrounded by the peaceful landscape of the Beskids. Karol Wojtyła used to pilgrimage to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska from a very early age. He came here together with his pious father, and then on his own. This is how he recollected those visits: Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: the sanctuary of the Madonna and her paths I have visited them many times since I was a little boy. I visited them as a priest, and particularly often as archbishop of Kraków and as cardinal. Most often I would come here on my own so that nobody would know, not even the custodian of the monastery. The characteristic thing about Kalwaria is that it s easy to hide in. So I came on my own and wandered down the paths of Jesus and his mother. When he was elected Pope, he also came to Kalwaria to pray. As John Paul II, he visited the place twice more, in 1979 and Four years later, Kalwaria welcomed his Roman successor, Benedict XVI. Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, photo by A. Błaszczak Family House of Karol Wojtyła, photo by M. Zaręba Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, photo by M. Zaręba Wadowice In Wadowice everything started. Life began, school began, university began, theatre began and priesthood began. This is how John Paul II remembered his hometown during his visit on 16 June It was his third and last visit to Wadowice. It is here that Karol Wojtyła was born on 18 May 1920, in a tenement house owned by a Jew named Chaim Bałamut. Two days later, he was baptised in a nearby church, today known as the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. During his 1979 visit to Wadowice, he prayed by the church s baptismal font and he crowned the miraculous painting of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In Wadowice one can find a number of other places connected with Karol Wojtyła: school buildings, the Sokół building, where he attended his first theatre classes, the confectionery where he had his famous cream cakes, and many others Family House of John Paul II, ul. Kościelna 7, Wadowice, \ , / May Sept, Tue Sun 9am 1pm and 2pm 6pm; Oct Apr, Tue Sun 9am 12pm and 1pm 4pm; voluntary donations. Monastery of the Bernardines, ul. Bernardyńska 46, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, \ , / Right above Wadowice extends the picturesque mountain range of the Low Beskids. This is where the future Pope used to go on his first mountain hikes to Leskowiec and the slightly lower Groń Jana Pawła II (the Mountain of John Paul II). 6 7

7 Church of St. Margaret, photo by M. Zaręba Raciborowice Raciborowice was close to the Pope s heart. Before ordination, Karol Wojtyła spent summer holidays there. As metropolitan bishop, he paid particular attention to the parish. The local 15 th century church of St. Margaret boasts an old Gothic crucifix, transferred here from Wawel cathedral. Parish chuch of St. Margaret, Raciborowice 2, \ , / Niegowić Parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Niegowić, photo by M. Zaręba At the heart of the Wieliczka Foothills lies Niegowić, where one can visit the statue of the Pope as a young priest. When Karol Wojtyła came to the parish in 1948 as curate, all that stood there was a wooden church built in The temple soon became too small for the growing community. Thanks to the vigorous new curate, the construction of a new church (open to visitors today) gained much in pace. The old church has been moved to Mętków, near Chrzanów. Parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Niegowić 13, \ , / The Lady of Ludźmierz, UMWM photo archive Ludźmierz The Lady of Ludźmierz, also known as Gaździna Podhala, has been the target of many highlander pilgrims, including the most famous highlander of the world, John Paul II. During his 1997 visit to Poland, he came to Ludźmierz and prayed saying the rosary. The visit has been commemorated by a statue of the praying Pope. Karol Wojtyła had come to Ludźmierz several times before. In 1963, as bishop of Kraków, together with the Primate of the Millennium, Stefan Wyszyński, he crowned the statue of Gaździna Podhala. It is said that when the statue was being carried in procession, her sceptre slipped out. It would have fallen on the ground if it had not been for bishop Wojtyła s reflexes he managed to catch it just in time. It was then hailed as harbinger of his great future. Sanctuary of God s Queen Mother of Podhale, ul. Jana Pawła II 124, Ludźmierz, \ , / In Nowy Targ, which lies only several kilometres away from Ludźmierz, there is a statue of John Paul II in commemoration of the 1979 mass for the whole of Podhale, which he celebrated on the premises of the airfield of the Podhale Flying Club. 8 9

8 Monastery walls in Stary Sącz, photo by J. Gorlach Papal Altar, photo by J. Gorlach Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Krzeptówki, photo by S. Gacek Stary Sącz The famous Sanctuary of St. Kinga in Stary Sącz owes a lot to Karol Wojtyła. It is he who, as Pope, canonised Kinga (also known as Cunegunda), the founder of the local convent of the sisters of St. Clare. The celebration of canonisation, which attracted 600 thousand believers, was held on 16 June 1999, on the spacious commons over Poprad, at the foot of the slope where Stary Sącz is situated. The altar, especially erected for the occasion, is still there today. Its wooden structure is a reference to the local architecture; the grass-covered slope and the brook running down the altar top are a reminder of the mountaineous landscape, which inspired the Pope to present the famous review of geography during the mass (when he listed from memory a number of local sites). Some of the memorabilia connected with the Pope s visit have been gathered in a little exhibition room underneath the altar. The area surrounding the altar is now home to the John Paul II Regional Pilgrimage Centre, which includes a pilgrim s hotel. The John Paul II Pilgrimage Centre, pl. św. Kingi 3, Stary Sącz, \ , / The market square in Nowy Sącz boasts one of the biggest monuments to the Pope in Małopolska a seven-metre-tall granite structure with a statue cast in bronze. Zakopane Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains are full of places connected with Karol Wojtyła. Of particular interest is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Krzeptówki, built out of gratitude for the rescue of John Paul II after the attempted assassination on 13 May Until then, all that had stood there was a chapel of the Pallottines with a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, donated by cardinal Stefan Wyszyński and consecrated by none other than bishop Wojtyła himself. As Pope, he then crowned the statue during the 1987 celebration in St. Peter s Square in Rome. The sanctuary also stores the altar from the 1997 mass under Wielka Krokiew, as well as a statue of the Pope and a replica of the Giewont cross. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Krzeptówki, ul. Krzeptówki 14, Zakopane, \ , / Hidden among the forests and mountain tops of Tatras are another two places connected with Karol Wojtyła: by the road leading up to Kalatówki sits the hermitage of St. Albert Chmielowski, while a bit further away from Zakopane lies the Sanctuary of the Madonna Queen of Tatras in Wiktorówki

9 In the footsteps of John Paul II In the Pope s footsteps..., photo by S. Gacek In Małopolska one can find a great number of trails commemorating John Paul II. His call, Don t you neglect these trails, resulted in the establishing of the special Foundation of Pope s Routes, whose goals are to mark out papal routes, organise trips, meetings and services. Most trails are designed for hikers. The first papal route was marked out spontaneously after John Paul II s 1983 visit to Tatras the yellow trail leads from the PTTK mountain shelter on Polana Chochołowska up to Dolina Jarząbcza (the Jarząbcza Valley). Since then, a lot of new hiking trails have been established, including: the Pope s paths near Raba Wyżna, the trail of the last hike from Skawica, through Hala Krupowa, to Krowiarki, the Pope s Trails near Jordanów and Chrzanów, the Trail of White Hearts leading up Groń Jana Pawła II (Mountain of John Paul II) in Beskid Mały, the trail from Salwator to Czerna (both near Kraków), the Pope s Trail of the Low Beskids, the review of geography trail from Stary Sącz to Krościenko as well as the ones in Beskid Wyspowy, Gorce, the Niegowić Łapanów trail, commemorating Karol Wojtyła s visit to Niegowić as curate, and, finally, the Pope s Kraków trail. A separate initiative is the official long John Paul II Małopolska Trail, traversing the Beskids from Kalwaria Zebrzydowska to Stary Sącz. Sanctuary in Zakopane- Wiktorówki, photo by D. Leśniak There are also a few commemorative routes designed for cars, such as the Sursum Corda Pope Route, which follows the steps of John Paul II s 1997 car journey from Zakopane to Ludźmierz. It is also worth taking Maryjny Szlak Papieski Złotej Róży, which leads from Kraków to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, then on to Wadowice, Sucha Beskidzka, Maków Podhalański, Jordanów, Spytkowice, Raba Wyżna and finally to Ludźmierz. Karol Wojtyła s passion for canoeing has been commemorated through the creation of the Pope s water trail in Pieniny. The future Pope used to traverse the famously difficult Dunajec River Gorge in a canoe. Foundation of Pope s Routes, ul. Bochnaka 2, Kraków, \ , / John Paul II Małopolska Trail, PTTK Tourist Information Centre, ul. Jagiellońska 6, Kraków, \ , / pttk.pl

10 Miechów Sanctuaries Sanktuaria Czerna A4 Kraków 7 Mogiła Łagiewniki 4 E40 Tarnów Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Dziekanowice Szczyrzyc Tropie Tuchów 28 7 Stary Sącz Ludźmierz Zakopane Sanctuaries and places of worship Sanctuary of St. Stanislaus in Kraków The baroque church of Sts. Michelangelo and Stanislaus in Kraków s Skałka rises above the boulevards on the Vistula River. The first, Romanesque church was built here as early as in the 11 th century. Inside this temple, in 1079, bishop Stanislaus of Szczepanów was murdered by order of king Bolesław II the Bold. Although his remains (which, as legend has it, were first chopped apart and then miraculously integrated after the bishop s death) were transferred to Wawel, the church in Skałka still serves as the place of worship of the martyr, who was canonised and declared patron of Poland in the 13 th century. The most important festival celebrated in the sanctuary is 8 May, the day when St. Stanislaus relics are carried in procession from Wawel to Skałka. Underneath the church in Skałka, there is a crypt which serves as a National Pantheon. Among the distinguished Poles buried there are: the chronicler Jan Długosz, the painter and playwright Stanisław Wyspiański and the poet Czesław Miłosz. Sanctuary of St. Stanislaus BM in Skałka church and monastery of the Paulines, ul. Skałeczna 15, Kraków, \ , / Sanctuary of the Holy Cross in Kraków-Mogiła, photo by S. Gacek Sanctuary of the Holy Cross in Kraków-Mogiła Detached from the vast housing estates of Nowa Huta and surrounded by greenery stands an 800-year-old monastery of the Cistercians. The monks arrived in Kraków in 1222, summoned by Iwon Odrowąż, bishop of Kraków. Soon afterwards, they built an abbey with the early-gothic church of St. Wenceslaus. In a chapel by the chancel, the Cistercians store a Gothic crucifix, worshipped since the 14 th century. The long tradition of its cult is evidenced by the great number of votive offerings on the chapel walls and the ruts in the floor rubbed out by hundreds of pilgrims approaching the holy relic on their knees. Believers visit the place also because of the relics of the Holy Cross, which are stored in the church as well. The major festival celebrated in the sanctuary is the Feast of the Cross on 14 September. Sanctuary of the Holy Cross Cistercian abbey in Kraków-Mogiła, ul. Klasztorna 11, Kraków, \ , / Nearby, there is a great 14 th century Gothic church of St. Catherine of Alexandria. In the cloisters of the Augustine monastery (to which the church belongs) one can admire a medieval mural the miraculous painting of the Madonna of Consolation. The wooden church of St. Bartholomew (along the Wooden Architecture Route) was built in 1466 by the royal carpenter, Maciej Mączka, and then extended in the 18 th century

11 Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki Sanctuary in Łagiewniki, photo by M. Zaręba One of the most famous temples in the country, the sanctuary in Łagiewniki was consecrated by John Paul II in Towards the end of the 19 th century, the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy was erected in the district of Łagiewniki. Here lived and died St. Faustina Kowalska, the sister who advocated the worship of the Divine Mercy. Her revelations inspired Adolf Hyła to paint the famous Divine Mercy image, with an inscription reading, Jesus I trust in you. After the beatification of Sister Faustina, her relics were placed in the side altar of the convent chapel, underneath the image of the Merciful Jesus. In 1994 a kneeler was installed in the railing, in order to enable pilgrims coming from all over the world to pay homage to her. Today, the most important festival celebrated in Łagiewniki is Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday immediately following Easter). The remembrance of St. Faustina (canonised by John Paul II in 2000) is celebrated on 5 October every year. Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki, ul. Siostry Faustyny 3, Kraków, \ , / www. milosierdzie.pl. 16 Sanctuary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, UMWM photo archive Sanctuary of the Passion and of the Madonna in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska The famous UNESCO-listed sanctuary is a place where pilgrims worship the Passion of Christ as well as pray to his mother Mary. In the baroque basilica of Saint Mary of Angels, administered by the Bernardines living in the nearby monastery, one can see the miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Kalwaria. Kalwaria was established in 1600 after the example of the Way of the Cross in Jerusalem. The painting of the Madonna was donated to the sanctuary in Around that time, a great number of Calvarian chapels were spread around the picturesque landscape of the Beskids. Among the festivals celebrated in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska in honour of Mary are the feast of the Madonna of Angels (2 August) and of the Dormition and Assumption of Mary (8 September). On top of that, each year during the Holy Week, Passion plays are staged in the church (with the crowning performance on Good Friday). 17 Sanctuary of the Passion and of the Madonna in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska the Bernardine Monastery, ul. Bernardyńska 46, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, \ , / Also worth seeing is the town of Lanckorona, with its cobbled market place and numerous old wooden houses, which are very characteristic of the small-town architecture of the region.

12 Sanctuary of the Madonna of Szkaplerzna in Czerna Sanctuary in Czerna, monastery photo archive Surrounded by the beech forests of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, in a secluded area above the Eliaszówka valley, stands an important monument of the baroque the church and monastery of the Discalced Carmelites in Czerna, also known as the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Szkaplerzna and of St. Rafał Kalinowski. The monastery and church of St. Prophet Elijah were built in 1629 by the foundation of Agnieszka z Tęczyńskich Firlejowa. The image of the Madonna of Szkaplerzna has been stored here since the mid-18 th century. The growth of the painting s popularity among worshippers was given impetus by St. Rafał Kalinowski, whose relics are kept in a special chapel. St. Rafał was canonised by John Paul II in The most important festivals celebrated in the sanctuary are the feast of the Madonna of Szkaplerzna (on 16 July) and the feast of St. Rafał Kalinowski (on the Sunday following 16 July, or on 20 November). Sanctuary of God s Queen Mother of Podhale, photo by M. Zaręba Sanctuary of God s Queen Mother of Podhale in Ludźmierz The figure of God s Queen Mother of Podhale was donated to the church in Ludźmierz around Legend has it that the donation came from a merchant who was lost in the nearby moors and decided to call for Mary to help him find his way. He founded the statue out of gratitude for her rescue. The figure of Gaździna Podhala can be found in the altar of the neo-gothic church built between 1869 and However, the first wooden temple was erected here soon after 1234, when Ludźmierz became the residence of the Cistercians. Afterwards, however, the monks moved to Szczyrzyc. One of the key figures for the Marian cult in Ludźmierz was Karol Wojtyła, who used to come here to pray on many occasions. The most important church fair is celebrated on 14 and 15 August (the festival of the Assumption of Mary). Sanctuary of the Madonna of Szkaplerzna and of St. Rafał Kalinowski the monastery of the Discalced Carmelites, Czer na 79, \ , / Sanctuary of God s Queen Mother of Podhale, ul. Jana Pawła II 124, Ludźmierz, \ , / The ruins of the Devil s Bridge in the woods of the Eliaszówka valley, which belong to the monastery in Czerna. Paczółtowice with its wooden church from 1510 part of the Wooden Architecture Route. Nowy Targ, with its interesting cemetery chapel of St. Anna from the second half of the 15 th century. Łopuszna s wooden church and the 18 th century manor house. Of particular interest is the UNESCO-listed church of St. Michael in Dębno

13 Interior of the Sanctuary, photo by M. Zaręba Sanctuary of the Tomb of Jesus, photo by P. Fabijański Sanctuary of the Tomb of Jesus in Miechów The sanctuary in Miechów was established in 1163, founded by Jaksa of the Gryf emblem, who had just returned from a crusade to the Holy Land. He brought along canons regular of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. These monks were subsequently referred to as bożogrobowcy or miechowici. The current appearance of the church is the effect of the extension work which took place in the 18 th century. The chapel of the Tomb of Jesus dates back to The most important festivals celebrated in Miechów take place during the Holy Week. The church fair on the Saturday preceding the second Sunday after Easter (the Feast of the Lord s Tomb) is also a noteworthy event. Sanctuary of the Tomb of Jesus, ul. Warszawska 1, Miechów, \ , / Sanctuary of the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dziekanowice In Dziekanowice, on top of a steep hill on the Raba river, stands a large church of Sts. Nicholas the Bishop and Mary Magdalene, built between 1960 and The church boasts the image of Our Lady of Dziekanowice, which was crowned by John Paul II in Right next to it, there is a little church from the turn of the 11 th and 12 th centuries. The main church fair is organised in the sanctuary on the Feast of the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the first Sunday after 11 October. Others: 22 July (the feast of Mary Magdalene) and 6 December (the feast of St. Nicholas). Parish Church of the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin, Dziekanowice 7, \ , / diecezja.krakow.pl. Monastery of the Cistercians in Szczyrzyc, photo by S. Gacek Monastery of the Cistercians in Szczyrzyc The Cistercian Abbey, situated near the hills of Beskid Wyspowy, was built in the first half of the 13 th century. After the fire in 1765, as a result of which only one 15 th century image of the Madonna of Szczyrzyc survived, the abbey was rebuilt in baroque style. The two major church fairs are organised on 8 May (the remembrance of St. Stanislaus the Bishop and Martyr) and 15 August (the feast of the Assumption of Virgin Mary). Sanctuary of the Madonna of Szczyrzyce the Parish Church of the Virgin Mary Assumed into Heaven and of St. Stanislaus, and the Cistercian Abbey, Szczyrzyc 1, \ , / Sanctuary of St. Kinga in Stary Sącz The convent of the sisters of St. Clare in Stary Sącz has towered over the Poprad valley for over 700 years. The convent s founder, Saint Kinga, was the Queen of Hungary and the wife of prince Bolesław V the Chaste. Legend has it that the deposits of salt in Wieliczka and Bochnia were discovered thanks to her. After her husband s death in 1280, she entered her own convent. Stary Sącz soon turned into a place of worship of St. Kinga but she was only canonised in 1999 by John Paul II. The church fairs are organised here on the Sunday nearest to 24 July (the remembrance of St. Kinga) and on the day of the Festival of the Holy Trinity (the first Sunday following the Pentecost). The Convent of the Sisters of St. Clare in Stary Sącz, pl. św. Kin gi 1, Stary Sącz, \ , /

14 Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Sorrows, photo by D. Zaród Sanctuaries in Tarnów Sanctuary of the Madonna of Szkaplerzna in Tarnów, photo by D. Zaród The most important church in Tarnów the Gothic cathedral basilica hosts the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Sorrows. Pilgrims come here to admire the wood-carved Pieta from the 17 th century. The major occasion for celebration in the sanctuary is the Feast of the Birth of the Virgin Mary (on 8 September). The little wooden church of the Assumption of Holy Mary is also known as the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Szkaplerzna. It was built in The image of Mary, however, comes from the 16 th century. The church fair is organised in the week between 16 and 22 July. The third sanctuary in Tarnów is located in the modern church of St. Joseph, north of the town centre. The object of worship here is the figure of Our Lady of Fatima. Church fairs are organised here on the first Sunday after 13 May (the feast of Our Lady of Fatima), after 13 October and 19 March (the Feast of St. Joseph). Cathedral Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, ul. Kapi tulna 2, \ , / org.pl. Parish church of the Madonna of Szkaplerzna, ul. NMP 1, \ Parish church of St. Joseph and Our Lady of Fatima, al. MB Fatimskiej 39, \ , / Szczepanów is the hometown and the place of worship of St. Stanislaus. Of interest here is a Gothic church from the 15 th century. In Zabawa, one can visit the Sanctuary of the Blessed Karolina Kózkówna. In Odporyszów, there is a 400-year-old Marian sanctuary. Sanctuary in Tuchów, photo by P. Fabijański Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Tuchów The little town of Tuchów lies among the hills of Pogórze Ciężkowickie. It is dominated by the great edifices of a baroque church from the second half of the 17 th century and of the monastery of the Redemptorists, who have administered the church and its image of the Madonna with Infant Jesus since the 19 th century. The author of this 16 th century painting remains unknown. It is believed that the first church built on this site in the 11 th century was consecrated by St. Stanislaus, hence its full name Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Stanislaus the Bishop and Martyr. The Madonna of Tuchów, also known as Our Lady of Tarnów, is celebrated during the church fair between 1 and 9 July. Other fairs are organised on 31 May (Visitation of the Virgin Mary) and 8 September (Birth of the Virgin Mary). Parish church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Stanislaus BM in Tuchów, ul. Wysoka 1, \ , / The wooden church of St. Martin from the turn of the 15 th and 16 th centuries can be found on the Wooden Architecture Route. The Fossil Town Reserve abounds in amazing rock formations and is an ideal area to walk around

15 Olkusz Chodów Uniejów Siedliska Miechów Szlaki Pilgrimage pielgrzymkowe trails Krzeszowice 7 Alwernia A4 Chełm Kraków 4 E40 Tarnów Maków Podhalański Kalwaria Zebrzydowska 7 Jordanów 28 Lipnica Murowana Tuchó Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Zakopane-Krzeptówki Church in Tropie, UMWM photo archive The great church in Krzeptówki was built out of gratitude for the rescue of John Paul II after the attempted assassination on 13 May 1981 in Rome. The Pallottines, however, had stored the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in a chapel on the site since It was donated by the bishop of Leiria and handed to the church by cardinal Stefan Wyszynski. It was then consecrated by bishop Karol Wojtyła. The most important church fairs are organised on 13 May, 15 August and on 8 December. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, ul. Krzeptówki 14, \ , / Church of Sts. Svorad and Benadik in Tropie The church of Sts. Svorad and Benadik has towered above the Czchowskie Lake since the 11 th century. It is believed to have been consecrated by St. Stanislaus himself and built on the site of the two saints former hermitage. The official church fair is organised on the closest Sunday to 13 July. Church of Sts. Svorad and Benadik in Tropie, Tropie 6, \ , / Droga św. Jakuba Via Regia In the footsteps of the saintsmałopolska Droga św. Jakuba Szlak Maryjny The Małopolska Province boasts Zakopane a great number Miejscowości of thematic na Małopolskim Szlaku Bożogrobców routes for pilgrims. Most popular with tourists are the Pope s trails, which were described before. Of interest are also several other routes, including two international ones. The Marian Trail in Małopolska This long international route is planned to connect two famous Marian sanctuaries the Austrian Mariazell and the Polish one in Częstochowa. It runs across the territory of the Małopolska Province from the Slovakian border to Zakopane, then through Jordanów and Maków Podhalański to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. From there it continues via Alwernia, Krzeszowice and Olkusz, across the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, towards Jasna Góra. This route was marked out predominantly along the already existing tourist pathways and bicycle paths. The major part of the route is planned to measure 220 km in total. The Małopolska Way of St. James The tradition of pilgrimaging to the Sanctuary of St. James in Santiago de Compostela in far-away Spain dates back to the early Middle Ages. Nowadays, in the age of the united Europe, the old pilgrimage routes of St. James (known as Camino de Santiago) seem to have revived as religious as well as tourist destinations. The Małopolska Way of St. James connects Sandomierz and Kraków. The great Via Regia is planned to join Korczowa (on the Ukrainian border) and St. Anne s Mountian in Silesia. The route from Tuchów via Tarnów and Kraków has already been marked out

16 Figurines of saints in Lipnica Murowana, photo by S. Gacek Małopolska Order of Holy Sepulchre Trail Miechów has always been the most famous seat of the canons regular of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, also known as bożogrobowcy or miechowici. There are, however, a few other places in the Małopolska Province which are in some ways related to the order. All of them can be reached thanks to the Małopolska Order of Holy Sepulchre Trail, which connects Miechów, Uniejów (with a parish church of St. Vitus, built by the order in the 15 th century) Chełm, near Bochnia (known for its parish church of St. John the Baptist from the 17 th century and the Museum of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre), Chodów, Siedliska and the villages once in custody of the monastery in Miechów. The Route of St. Simon in Lipnica Murowana Lipnica Murowana is a beautiful little old town, known for its connection with St. Simon of Lipnica. The route named after him comprises interesting monuments of Lipnica, as well as certain places related to the cult of St. Simon. Of particular interest are: the famous, UNESCO-listed, wooden cemetery chapel of St. Leonard, the market place of Lipnica with its statue of St. Simon, the local parish church of St. Andrew and the manor house of the Ledóchowski family once inhabited by St. Ursula Ledóchowska and her sister, the Blessed Maria Teresa Ledóchowska. The church in Skałka, photo by M. Zaręba Saint Stanislaus of Kraków Route The walking route connects various places connected with the cult of St. Stanislaus of Szczepanów. It begins with the Wawel Royal Cathedral of Sts. Stanislaus BM and Wenceslaus M, where the saint s relics are deposited in a sumptuous confession of the church s nave. The route continues along the precious monuments of the baroque, such as the Bernardine church and monastery, where one can see the relics of St. Simon of Lipnica. The route then leads to Skałka and the Sanctuary of St. Stanislaus. Kraków s Path of the Saints One of Kraków s many claims to fame is the unparalleled number of burial places of the saints and blesseds of the Catholic Church to be found in the city. The churches in Kraków currently host the graves of 7 saints, 10 blesseds and 7 other believers who died considered by their contemporaries as holy servants of God. It is worth mentioning the places where one can find the relics of the saints, which are: Wawel Cathedral (St. Stanislaus, St. Jadwiga), the collegiate church of St. Anna (St. Jan Kanty), the Bernardine church (St. Simon of Lipnica), the basilica of the Holy Trinity (St. Jacek Odrowąż), the Ecce Homo Sanctuary (St. Albert Chmielowski) and the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki (St. Faustina)

17 Punkty Informacji Turystycznej Małopolska Tourist Information System Points KraKów InfoKraków, ul. Powiśle 11, Kraków \ , InfoKraków, ul. Św. Jana 2, Kraków \ InfoKraków Os. Słoneczne 16, Kraków \ InfoKraków, ul. Józefa 7, Kraków \ InfoKraków Sukiennice, Rynek Główny 1/3, Kraków \ InfoKraków Sanktuarium w Łagiewnikach, ul. Siostry Faustyny 3, Kraków \ InfoKraków, ul. Szpitalna 25, Kraków \ InfoKraków Pawilon Wyspiański pl. Wszystkich Świętych 2, \ InfoKraków Międzynarodowy Port Lotniczy w Balicach, Balice \ Myślenice Rynek 27, Myślenice \ , it.myslenice@msit.malopolska.pl wiśniowa Wiśniowa 301, Wiśniowa \ , it.wisniowa@msit.malopolska.pl Dobczyce ul. Podgórska 1, Dobczyce \ , it.dobczyce@msit.malopolska.pl olkusz ul. Floriańska 8, Olkusz \ , it.olkusz@msit.malopolska.pl Miechów Plac Kościuszki 1A, Miechów \ , it.miechow@msit.malopolska.pl Tarnów Rynek 7, Tarnów \ , it.tarnow@msit.malopolska.pl Tuchów ul. Chopina 10, Tuchów \ , it.tuchow@msit.malopolska.pl Dąbrowa TarnowsKa ul. Polna 13, Dąbrowa Tarnowska \ , it.dabrowatarnowska@msit.malopolska.pl wadowice ul. Kościelna 4, Wadowice \ , it.wadowice@msit. malopolska.pl andrychów Rynek 27, Andrychów \ , it.andrychow@msit.malopolska.pl sucha beskidzka ul. Zamkowa 1, Sucha Beskidzka \ , it.sucha-beskidzka@msit.malopolska.pl oświęcim ul. St. Leszczyńskiej 12, Oświęcim \ , it.oswiecim@msit.malopolska.pl chrzanów Aleja Henryka 40, Chrzanów \ , it.chrzanow@msit.malopolska.pl Trzebinia ul. Kościuszki 74, Trzebinia \ , it.trzebinia@msit.malopolska.pl zakopane ul. Kościeliska 7, Zakopane \ , it.zakopane@msit.malopolska.pl poronin ul. Józefa Piłsudskiego 2, Poronin \ , it.poronin@msit.malopolska.pl witów Witów 239A, Witów \ , it.witow@msit.malopolska.pl biały Dunajec ul. Jana Pawła II 363, Biały Dunajec \ , it.bialy-dunajec@msit.malopolska.pl białka TaTrzańsKa ul. Środkowa 16, Białka Tatrzańska \ , it.bialka-tatrzanska@msit.malopolska.pl nowy Targ Rynek 1, Nowy Targ \ , it.nowy-targ@msit.malopolska.pl rabka-zdrój ul. Parkowa 2, Rabka-Zdrój \ , it.rabka-zdroj@msit.malopolska.pl nowy sącz ul. Szwedzka 2, Nowy Sącz \ , it.nowy-sacz@msit.malopolska.pl Krynica-zDrój ul. Zdrojowa 4/2, Krynica-Zdrój \ , it.krynica-zdroj@msit.malopolska.pl limanowa Rynek, Limanowa \ , it.limanowa@msit.malopolska.pl biecz Rynek 1, Biecz \ , it.biecz@msit.malopolska.pl sękowa Siary 19, Sękowa \ , it.sekowa@msit.malopolska.pl