Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

Tours

During our trip, we'll provide continuous transportation so you can fully enjoy each of the planned destinations. Your guide will be present throughout to ensure not only your safety but also to provide you with a thorough understanding and experience of each place we visit. Unofficially, the guided tour begins as soon as you get into the car, because our charming and zany guide will talk about the history of Krakow, Christianity in Poland, Krakow’s churches, and their connections, dependencies, and conflicts with pagan religion and culture, and many, many more. One thing is certain: you won’t have to worry about deafening silence during the drive or the entire tour (except for moments when silence is required). We'll start with a visit to the Observation Tower, where you'll be able to admire the picturesque views of the surrounding area. As you ascend to the top, I assure you'll be mesmerized by the panorama stretching out before you. Next, we'll head to the Museum of Saint Sister Faustina. Here, you'll have the opportunity to delve into the history and life of this extraordinary figure and learn about her legacy in both religious and social contexts. Your guide will share fascinating stories and insights into her impact on the world. Finally, we'll visit the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy. This place holds special significance for many pilgrims and believers. Here, you'll have the chance to immerse yourself in an atmosphere of peace and reflection, discovering the meaning of Divine Mercy in everyday life. You can enhance the tour with a visit to the nearby Sanctuary of Blessed John Paul II (the most popular option) or stick with the shorter version. The total duration of the tour may vary depending on the pickup location, traffic conditions, and whether and how much time you spend on prayer/confession. The standard version usually lasts 3-4 hours, while the extended version typically lasts 4-6 hours.

Wadowice is a small town located about 50 km from Krakow. Here exactly 100 years ago future Pope of the Roman catholic Church, Karol Wojtyła, who assumed the name of John Paul II was born and baptized. Tour incudes visiting the family home of Karol Wojtyła, now a museum documenting his life, activities and Pope’s relations with Wadowice. You will see the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary of May, where the Pope was baptized. Later you will go to the John Paul II center located in Krakow dedicated to his life and work.

To make the most of your day, the recommended pick-up time is around 9:00 am. Spend around 2 hours in Wadowice, 1 hour in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and 1 hour in the Divine Mercy Sanctuary and John Paul II center in Krakow - Lagiewniki. Finally you will be dropped off at your hotel or apartment in central Krakow. The first stop of your tour is in Wadowice Town of John Paul II, situated in southern Poland, where John Paul II was born. Explore the John Paul II museum, established in the Pope's family home, with an interactive exhibition about his life from a toddler, through his studies, the Second World War, his period as a priest and the attempt against his life. On the journey back to Krakow, stop at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Sancturay, the second most frequently visited pilgrimage sanctuary in Poland, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over a million visitors come to this holy place every year. Travel to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy and John Paul II center in Łagiewniki. Pay tribute to the relics of the Pope and St. Faustyna Kowalska, who was canonized by John Paul II and admire the impressive basilica consecrated by the Pope in 2002.

Immerse yourself in the history of Catholicism on this full-day tour of Poland's most important religious sites. Meet your guide at your hotel in Krakow and hop in the car that will take you straight to the city of Wadowice. Here, visit the family home of Pope John Paul II, which has now been converted into a museum, and learn about the early life of the Polish Pope. Next, head to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a pilgrimage town where you can visit the Bernardine Monastery and its complex of 42 chapels and churches. Follow in the footsteps of important figures like John Paul II, the Austrian Emperor, and member of the Royal Family, who have all visited this site over the years. On the way back to Krakow, stop at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki. Pay your respects to the holy relics of Saint Faustyna Kowalska, and admire the architecture of the modern basilica.

Wadowice is a small city situated 50 km from Krakow. Here Karol Wojtyła, the future Pope John Paul II was born. The tour includes a visit to the Family Home of John Paul II, now a museum which provides exhibits of the future Pope's domestic life. The next place is Basilica of the Offering of the Blessed Virgin Mary- an ornate Church where Karol Wojtyła was baptized and confirmed.  Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, this pilgrimage town founded in 1601, is best known for the Bernardine (Grey Friar) Monastery and its complex of 42 Chapels and Churches. Oficially called the Cultural & Landscape Complex of Monastery and Pilgrimage Park of the Bernardine Fathers, this amazing place was added to the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List in 1999. Be sure to visit the 17th century Baroque Church famous for its miraculous painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Kalwaria (Polish for Calvary). Visit the basilica and monastery located in the city of Jasna Góra and discover the holy relic of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa. Częstochowa is one of the most important centers of religious worship in Poland, it is regarded by many as Poland's spiritual capital and for hundreds of years, it has been a site of pilgrimage for Poles. High on the mountain top, the monastery holds the most famous shrine to the Virgin Mary in Poland and it is home to the Black Madonna painting - rumored to have been painted by St. Luke on a tabletop built by Jesus. The Black Madonna, depicting the Mother of God with the Christ Child, is believed to have miraculous powers by those who visit her.

Get picked up in the morning and head to Wadowice, the city where John Paul II was born and raised. Visit the location where, in the place of his former residence, a museum was opened in his memory. His timeless message has been delivered to people around the world and exhibits his incredible wisdom and understanding of contemporary problems, which makes this place a popular destination for many Catholics. Of course, also while in Wadowice, don't miss the famous papal fondant. The next stop is Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Sanctuary and Park, which can be found on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. It is regarded as the Polish Calvary Hill. The final stop is in Krakow at Divine Mercy Sanctuary, a location near and dear to the Pope’s heart, as the remains of Saint Faustina Kowalska rest there. After the tour, get dropped off at your hotel in Krakow in the afternoon.

Your tour begins with a visit to Łagiewniki, which is connected with the cult of the Divine Mercy, the grave of St. Faustina Kowalska and St. John Paul II. Here you can find the Divine Mercy Sanctuary and the “Have No Fear!” John Paul II Center, a center in Kraków dedicated to the life and work of Pope John Paul II, which also houses his relic, a glass capsule of his blood. On the way to Wadowice, "the place where it all began", you will visit the Sanctuary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. In Wadowice, the pope's hometown, you will see the places dearest to Karol Wojtyła during his childhood and adolescence, including the parish church where he was baptized and the house where he was born, which is now a museum. Finally, visit the Archbishop's Palace which was Wojtyła's last residence before leaving for the Vatican in 1978. There one can see the famous "papal window", where John Paul II used to show up to chat and chant with the youth of Kraków during all his visits and where thousands of people lit candles and prayed during his last days.

Discover the places where faith, trust in God and love for neighbor were born in the young man Karol Wojtyla. Explore the three most meaningful places beloved by John Paul II. In Wadowice, the Pope's hometown, see the places dearest to Karol Wojtyła during his childhood and adolescence, including the parish church where he was baptized and the house where he was born, which is now a museum. Admire Kalwaria Zebrzydowska with its splendid Monastery and Church, which JPII asked us to visit “during his life and after his death”. Visit Krakow's Łagiewniki, connected with the cult of the Divine Mercy, the grave of St. Faustina Kowalska and St. John Paul II. Find the Divine Mercy Sanctuary and the “Have No Fear!” John Paul II Center, a center in Kraków dedicated to the life and work of Pope John Paul II, which also houses his relic, a glass capsule of his blood.

Discover the life of Karol Wojtyła, the future Pope John Paul II, who was born in the small city of Wadowice. Begin your tour at his family home in Wadowice where you'll explore exhibits of the future Pope's early life. Then see the Basilica of the Offering of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the ornate church where Karol Wojtyła was baptized and confirmed. Next explore Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a pilgrimage town founded in 1601 best-known for the Bernardine (Grey Friar) Monastery and its complex of 42 chapels and churches. This amazing place was added to the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List in 1999. Admire the 17th-century Baroque church famous for its miraculous painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Kalwaria (Calvary). Then continue on to the Łagiewniki district of Krakow where you will find the Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Every year millions of pilgrims from all over the world seeking graces. See the vast sanctuary, the Congregation of the Sisters of God's Mother of Mercy, the main church, and an array of chapels. You will also see the statue of Our Lady of Mercy, statues of St. Stanisław Kostka and St. Mary Magdalene, a picture of St. Joseph with the Child, and a coffin with relics of St. Sister Faustina. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the viewing tower.

A tour from Krakow to Wadowice offers a deep dive into the early life and legacy of Pope John Paul II. Starting in Krakow, the tour includes visits to two significant religious sites. First, the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Łagiewniki, a major pilgrimage site linked to Saint Faustina Kowalska and the Divine Mercy devotion. The basilica, consecrated by John Paul II in 2002, is central to this devotion, which he promoted globally. Visitors can explore the basilica, Saint Faustina’s tomb, and enjoy panoramic views of Krakow, reflecting on the spiritual connection the pope had with Divine Mercy. Next is the John Paul II Center, a modern complex dedicated to the pope's life and work. The center features the Church of the Blessed John Paul II, with relics such as a vial of his blood. A museum offers a multimedia look at his life, from his youth in Poland to his global impact. In Wadowice, visitors explore the pope's family home, now a museum showcasing his early years, and the Basilica of the Presentation, where he was baptized. This church provides insights into the religious environment that shaped his life. This tour offers a concise, yet meaningful exploration of the life of Pope John Paul II, from his humble beginnings to his global influence.