St. Mary’s Basilica / Bazylika Mariacka
Krakow, Poland
Krakow
Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Poland
Sun 14:00 - 18:00
Last entrance 15 minutes before closing.
Overlooking Main Market Square, this striking brick church, St. Mary's Basilica, is dominated by two towers of different heights. The first church here was built in the 1220s. After Tartar raids in the 13th century left the original church in a heap of ruins, St. Mary’s was rebuilt in Gothic style on the existing foundations and consecrated in 1320.
The main church entrance, through a Baroque portal added to the southwestern facade in the 1750s, is used by worshippers; tourists must enter through the side door to the southeast.
There are several attractions for the tourists in St. Mary's Basilica:
- The magnificent wooden altarpiece was the principal work of 15th century German artist Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz).
- On the opposite side of the church, above the organ loft, is a fine Art Nouveau stained-glass window by Stanisław Wyspiański and Józef Mehoffer.
- The colourful wall paintings, designed by Jan Matejko, harmonise beautifully with the medieval architecture.
The church is available for worship without paying an entry fee via the main entrance. Tourists are asked to use a side entrance, however, and not visit during services. Please check visiting hours.
Church of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven (also known as Saint Mary's Church; Polish: Kosciol Wniebowziecia Najswietszej Maryi Panny, Kosciol Mariacki) is a Brick Gothic church adjacent to the Main Market Square in Krakow, Poland. Built in the 14th century, its foundations date back to the early 13th century and serve as one of the best examples of Polish Gothic architecture. Standing 80 m (262 ft) tall, it is particularly famous for its wooden altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz).
On every hour, a trumpet signal—called the Hejnal mariacki—is played from the top of the taller of Saint Mary's two towers. The plaintive tune breaks off in mid-stream, to commemorate the famous 13th century trumpeter, who was shot in the throat while sounding the alarm before the Mongol attack on the city. The noon-time hejnal is heard across Poland and abroad broadcast live by the Polish national Radio 1 Station.Saint Mary's Basilica also served as an architectural model for many of the churches that were built by the Polish diaspora abroad, particularly those like Saint Michael's and Saint John Cantius in Chicago, designed in the Polish Cathedral style.
The church is familiar to many English-speaking readers from the 1929 book The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly.
Map
User reviews
zithro
Beautiful Church and to each full hour is denominated by one of the kraków fire brigade man's bell, and au?besides, with a trumpet in all four directions from the bell tower on played (the trumpeter hort at the half of the song, since, according to Tales of the trumpeter played in the middle ages to the alarm before the Mongol attack, and at the half by a Mongol arrow was killed).
Very su? looks by the way, the after the trumpet-playing the firefighter out of the tower waving.
Sehr su? ist ubrigens das man nach dem Trompetenspiel den Feuerwehrmann aus dem Turm winken sieht.
Linus
Like millions of others during the world youth day 2016 have been there. A beautiful Church, a visit is absolutely worth it.
Peter
Highlight of Krakow. Beautiful interior. You can get up to the top. It is worth it. Fireman plays trumpet every hour you can talk to him but consider you need to climb 271 steps up. It is worth it.
Jones
I was at WYD there is a very beautiful Church with the worship just well-prepared ??
Adeel
The best thing about the Basilica is the Veit Stoss, you can also enjoy the city view by going on top of the church, Also a fireman plays trumpet every hour from the top of the church
Philippe
Not to be missed... Amazing.
Marcin
Beautiful place right in the main square. Make sure to stick around on the hour to hear the "hejnał mariacki" played from one of its towers
Chris
Mt. Mary's Basillica's church...I'ts a very empressive catholigoc architecture! It's very huge about 80m tall! And it was build in the 14th century! Medieval and beautiful! Extremelly recommended!
Guillaume
Impressive from outside, wonderful from inside
Frowin
The inside and the outside, a very beautiful Church, whose bell tower is a trumpet player announces each new hour.
Leticia
Its interior cut you the breath. Of the most beautiful that I saw in my life
arek354
History. Legend. Wit Stwosz.
Ludwig
Beautiful cathedral. A lot of colors and some beautiful stained glass windows.
alex
Beautiful basilica, it is worth to lose one hour of life to see this beauty
Jie
One can visit the Tower and if you time your visit well, one can even witness the trumpeting close-up.
Anyway, read about the legend of the trumpeting and why it ends abruptly. Very interesting tale.
Pete
Worth a visit if you want to pray (free), not such a good visit if you are a keen photographer.
If you are carrying a camera, several lenses and a tripod it is obvious to most, even a servant of god, that you are not there to pray, so with this in mind, I was happy to confess my sins in that I had no intention of praying but every intention of photographing.
So we approached the inner guard brandishing our 10 Zloty note whilst carrying all our camera gear.
He refused to take it and pointed us in the direction of the ticket office which was, for some strange reason, in another building, (God works in mysterious ways).
They took one look at me with all my camera gear and tripod and happily accepted my money in return for a ticket.
We then made our way back to the cathedral and, along with all my camera gear and tripod, we were let in.
Once in, I chose my spot for the photograph and unslung my camera, only to be apprehended by the church police who informed me that I needed a photography ticket, I showed him my ticket and was told that it was a visitors ticket, to photograph, we would need a photographers sticker each that, conveniently, he could provide for a further 5 Zlotys.
This was duly paid and, sporting my new sticker, I set about extending my tripod.
“NO” said the padre provo, “No tripods”.
“But I have just paid to photograph your church”, I pleaded, “How can I photograph in here without a tripod?”
“No tripods and no flash”, came his reply.
So 10 Zlotys to get in, a further 5 Zlotys to get a photographers sticker and ‘after’ taking your money, they inform you that you cannot use a tripod or flash, effectively saying that you cannot take a photograph.
I tried my best to keep my camera steady, assuming that they would not have appreciated my using one of their lecterns as a makeshift tripod when, ten minutes in, a further clergy cop stopped us stating that our visit was over as they were setting up for the religious equivalent of a happy hour.
Why could they not have told us, whilst taking our 10 Zlotys that we could not take photos or use tripods? It was obvious to all that we had cameras and tripod. Why could they not tell us, whilst taking a further 5 Zlotys for a photography pass, that it was pointless, as you cannot use a tripod or flash, he knew I had a tripod, I had to put it down to get to to my money to pay him?
Answer: They would have lost the 15 Zlotys (30 as there were two of us), that they conned us out of!
Such a shame that the church is so greedy - by this time we were 30 Zlotys in, I would have (albeit begrudgingly), paid more for the tripod as the shot is ruined without it, but no permission was forthcoming.
What is the problem with a tripod?
Maria
Another beautiful Basilica that you should visit when in Old Town Krakow, the blue starred ceiling and wooden alter that took 12 years to make is stunning, also it is worth waiting to hear the bugle call ( hejnat marichi ) every hour.
Alberto
The trumpeter who plays in the direction of the four cardinal points every hour, every day of the year. Beautiful.
Alexey
A very nice basilica with beautiful ceiling but too much hype is there due to central location. A crowded place. Better visit other cathedrals not in the central part of town. Paid entrance.
See my pics attached
See
Stunning cathedral representative of the deep Catholic history of the people of Krak?w. There is currently a countdown to World Youth Day to be held in Krak?w in 2016. Youths from around the world will come to pray with Pope Francis when he visits the city, the hometown of Pope John Paul II when he was a Bishop.
Tourists must take a photo here to keep their memories of their visit to Krak?w.
Guenter
We,guests from Berlin Wade of Krakow thrilled.
Cati
A BOVEDA SPECTACULAR
Was done with the intention of competing with the Wawel Cathedral, its towers have different height, something rather curious. But your interior is one of the most beautiful we've seen with the blue roof and the vaulting starry.
You pay entrance to be able to make photos, but well worth it, if I remember correctly were 5 zl.
Se realizo con la intencion de rivalizar con la Catedral de Wawel, sus torres tienen diferente altura, algo bastante curioso. Pero su interior es uno de los mas bonitos que hemos visto, con el techo azul y la boveda estrellada.
Se paga entrada para poder hacer fotos, pero merece la pena, si no recuerdo mal eran 5 zl.
nano
Nice Place! Aspecially during Christmas time
