Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

Introducing Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

Poland’s second most important pilgrimage site after Jasna Góra in Częstochowa, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (kahl-vah-ryah zeb-zhi-dof-skah) is set amid hills 35km southwest of Kraków. The town owes its existence and subsequent fame to the squire of Kraków, Mikołaj Zebrzydowski, who commissioned the church and monastery for the Bernardine order in 1600. Having noticed a resemblance in the area to the topography of Jerusalem, he set about creating a place of worship similar to the Via Dolorosa in the Holy City. By 1617, 24 chapels were built over the surrounding hills, some of which looked as though they’d been brought directly from the mother city. As the place attracted growing numbers of pilgrims, more chapels were erected, eventually totalling 42. In 1999 Kalwaria Zebrzydowska was added to Unesco’s list of World Heritage sites.

There is a tourist office (033 876 6101; www.kalwaria-zebrzydowska.pl; Rynek 19; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 8am-1pm Sat) just south of the basilica.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009