Are you interested in pilgrimage? Monuments inscribed on the UNESCO list are not strange to you? So for sure, you must choose Kalwaria!
What is all about?
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is a town in southern Poland, famous for its mannerist building and being one of the main center of Polish pilgrimages. The city was built in the seventeenth century by order of Mikolaj Zebrzydowski fascinated in an idea of the ideal city. It is just the one calvary, added in UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Kalwaria is a complex of religious buildings, which symbolize the stations of Lord’s Passion. Their character and arrangement is similar to Jerusalem – calvarie was a place of pilgrimage for the faithful who were not able to go to the Holy City, and they wanted to receive indulgences. The word Calvary is the Latin word – Calvaria, means a skull, the equivalent of the Hebrew Golgotha - elevation on which Jesus Christ was crucified.
The destination for pilgrims follow to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is the shrine of Bernardine order, which includes:
- Monastery and Basilica of Holy Lady of the Angels, was built in the style of mannerism, it was rebuilt several times. In one of the side chapels is located miraculous image of Holly Lady of Kalwaria.
- 42 chapels and churches – the way Jesus passion (28 stations), and way of Holy Lady (24 stations)
Calvary was listed by UNESCO in December 1999, which only accentuates its unique character. In addition, the sanctuary was a place of frequent visits and prayers of Karol Wojtyla. As Pope John Paul II came here twice: 1979 and 2002. In 1998 he received an honorary citizenship of the city.
If you are interested in visiting this city, KrakowShuttle can arrange for you tailor-made tour. For any people interested in Christian culture, we especially recommend a trip to Czestochowa and the Black Madonna Tour and a tour following a steps of John Paul II, John Paul II Heritage Tour.
