Basilica of Our Lady of Wambierzyce – The largest Calvary in Poland

Bazylika Nawiedzenia NMP w Wambierzycach, Pl. Najświętszej Marii Panny, Radków, Poljska

Website of the Sanctuary

+ 48 074 871 91

Calvary open 24 hours, Basilica 6.30 to 19.00

Silesian Jerusalem in Wambierzyce

The town was also rebuilt on the model of Jerusalem in the 18th and 19th centuries, hence it is called the ‘Silesian Jerusalem’.

The largest Calvary (landscaped Way of Cross) in Poland, and one of the largest in Europe, was raised on the slope opposite the basilica.

About 130 chapels related to scenes from the Old and the New Testament are spread on hills with Biblical names such as: Mount Sinai, Mount Tabor, Mount Zion and  Mount Horeb, and on the backstreets of the town.

The settlement is closed by 17 gates (just like Jerusalem); a stream called Kidron flows through the centre. To cover entire the Way of the Cross one needs about 2 hours.

 Our Lady Wambierzyce - The Queen of Families

Our Lady Wambierzyce – The Queen of Families

Wambierzyce – the Church of Birth of Blessed Virgin Mary is an important centre for the Marian cult and a destination of numerous pilgrimages. Legend has it, that in the late 12thcentury the Virgin Mary appeared to Jan of Ratno, on this spot.

In the early 16th century, the numbers of pilgrims arriving here was so large that in 1512, Ludwig von Pannewitz built a late Gothic church in place of the old wooden one mentioned in 1418, and destroyed during the Hussite Wars. J. Socha became the parish priest of the Wambierzyce in 1647.

Thanks to him the pilgrimage tradition was restored. He carried out his pastoral activities in Polish, thus drawing numerous group of Polish people from Silesia. Wambierzyce was bought by Daniel von Osterberg in 1667.

Wambierzyce

He decided to raise a Jerusalem in miniature on his estate. He hired Italian, D. Rossi, who remodelled the church between 1695 and 1711.

Due to excessive frugality the walls of the church cracked and the next owner of the village, Count Antoni von Götzen, ordered demolition of the building (in 1714). Only the façade was left of the structure.

The central part of the church was thoroughly rebuilt between 1715 and 1725; the reconstruction was modelled on the Temple of Jerusalem, with monumental stairs leading to the entrance (52 steps symbolically refers to the 33 years of the life of Christ, the 15 years of Mary at the moment of conception, and the 4 Apostles). The oval nave is surrounded by 11 chapels and the cloisters.

Chapel Museum in Wambierzyce

Chapel – The museum is located at the basilica – entry into the convent gate. The unfortunate location of this chapel makes few tourists visit this place. In the near future, after the restoration of the cloister  all the exhibits housed in the chapel will be moved to the cloister.

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The location of these important and historical exhibits in the cloisters of the basilica will allow all those who come to Wambierzyce see interesting and important exhibits of local history.

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Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Chapel Museum

Chapel – The museum is located at the basilica – entry into the convent gate. The unfortunate location of this chapel makes few tourists visit this place. In the near future, after the restoration of the cloister  all the exhibits housed in the chapel will be moved to the cloister. The location of these important and historical exhibits in the cloisters of the basilica will allow all those who come to Wambierzyce see interesting and important exhibits of local history.

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Wambierzyce Klodzko is best reached by bus or minibus.

If you’re driving – from Kłodzko direction on Kudowa Zdroj (8, E67), at the height of Polanica Zdroj, turn right towards Wambierzyce (road No. 388 – 9 km).

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

  • Sundays and feasts: 7.30, 9.00, 11.00, 18.00 and in the season (May to September) in addition: 12.30
  • Weekdays: 7.00 and 18.00, and according to the needs of pilgrims. During the week of May to late September Mass for pilgrims; 11.00.

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Our Lady Wambierzyce Queen of Families

Wambierzyce – the Church of Birth of Blessed Virgin Mary is an important centre for the Marian cult and a destination of numerous pilgrimages. Legend has it, that in the late 12thcentury the Virgin Mary appeared to Jan of Ratno, on this spot. In the early 16th century, the numbers of pilgrims arriving here was so large that in 1512, Ludwig von Pannewitz built a late Gothic church in place of the old wooden one mentioned in 1418, and destroyed during the Hussite Wars. J. Socha became the parish priest of the Wambierzyce in 1647.

Thanks to him the pilgrimage tradition was restored. He carried out his pastoral activities in Polish, thus drawing numerous group of Polish people from Silesia. Wambierzyce was bought by Daniel von Osterberg in 1667. He decided to raise a Jerusalem in miniature on his estate. He hired Italian, D. Rossi, who remodelled the church between 1695 and 1711. Due to excessive frugality the walls of the church cracked and the next owner of the village, Count Antoni von Götzen, ordered demolition of the building (in 1714). Only the façade was left of the structure.

The central part of the church was thoroughly rebuilt between 1715 and 1725; the reconstruction was modelled on the Temple of Jerusalem, with monumental stairs leading to the entrance (52 steps symbolically refers to the 33 years of the life of Christ, the 15 years of Mary at the moment of conception, and the 4 Apostles). The oval nave is surrounded by 11 chapels and the cloisters.

The interior of the church is maintained in the Baroque style. The richly decorated pulpit, by the sculptor Karl Sebastian Flacker, and the main altar, with a miraculous statue from the 14th century (around 1380) of the Virgin Mary, both draw particular attention. The statue is only 28 cm high. It depicts Mary holding the Child in her right hand and a pomegranate fruit in her left. The fruit symbolises eternal life. Jesus gives a blessing with his right hand and holds a bird with his left. The coronation of this miraculous statue of the Holy Mother from Wambierzyce took place in August 17, 1980. Some votive paintings from the 18thcentury hang in the side altars. In 1936, after a thorough refurbishment, the church was given the title of a minor basilica by Pius XI. Wambierzyce was entitled theArchidiecezjalne Sanktuarium Królowej Rodzin (Archdiocese Sanctuary of the Queen of Families).

In  August 17, 1980 coronation made by Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, read a special letter from the Holy Father John Paul II, in which he wrote, among others, “I want to express with this greeting my great joy that today the Mother of God in her sanctuary in Wambierzyce experiences special worship – her coronation. I rejoice with all the participants of this event”.

In 1990 Wambierzyce the Jesuits left the sanctuary  and was taken care of diocesan priests who exercised ministry in this place over the next 17 years. Since June 2007 Wambierzyce is use by Franciscans of the Province of St.. Hedwig Order of Friars Minor.

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Posted in Europe and Poland