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The St. Mary's Church (Mariacki) is one of the most important churches in Krakow. It was built between 1287 and 1320 on the remains of a former Romanesque church. The church is home of the largest Gothic wooden altar in Europe. Leave a Comment Address: St. Mary's Church, Rynek Glowny 4, KrakowDirections: St. Mary's Church is situated at the northeastern edge of the Market Square (Rynek Glowny).
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I am not sure that words can adequately describe the majesty of St. Mary's Church. Indeed when we visited an awed silence was the first reaction to this glorious building.
The two towers of unequal height give the outside of church an idiosyncratic air. This aysmmetry prompting feelings of friendliness and comfort. The building looks welcoming.
The interior of the church is just amazing. Highly decorated in bright colours, reds, blues, greens and gold. The choir stalls are
backed by low-relief carvings of intricate detail.
For me the most astonishing part of the church is the High Altar, made by Wit Stwosz between 1477 and 1489. The alter screen is like a large cabinet with huge doors which can be opened out. Both the outside and inside of the alter screen are wonderfully carved and decorated, showing scenes from the lives of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. The figures are lifelike, the detail fantastic and the whole effect vigorous.
The huge outer doors are opened at midday so it is worth visitng the church a little before that so you can witness both the outer and inner decoration as well as the ceremony when the doors are open.
I also particularly like the fact that a seperate area is provided for worshippers. I enjoy visiting religious buildings whether they be churches, mosques, synagogues but am often worried that my tourism is distracting for people who have come to worship. Therefore it was refreshing to see that the feelings of both worshippers and visitors were catered for in a very sympathetic way. Leave a Comment Address: Mariacki Sq. 5Directions: In the main Market Square Open 11.30am-6.00pm Mon-Friday and 2.00-6.00pm Sunday.
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On the opposite side of the market lies the St. Mary's Cathedral, which is significant for several reasons.
First, the interior is decorated unlike any cathedral you'll have ever seen. Brightly painted in blue and gold and filled with portraits of Polish nobility throughout history, St. Mary's makes the grand stone cathedrals elsewhere in Europe appear cavernous and dull.
Second, St. Mary's was John Paul II's home cathedral prior to his election to Pope.
Third, St. Mary's greets the hour not with church bells, but with a live trumpeteer who blows a tune out of three different windows in the hexagon-shaped tower - a unique and neat little tradition! Leave a Comment Directions: Market Square
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St. Mary's church with its asymetrical facade dominates the Old Town Square. It dates back to the 16th century and was the most important church in the city for many centuries.
In the lower tower five bells are housed while the higher tower served as as a watch-tower since the Middle Ages.
Inside St. Mary's is a valuable collection of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque furnishings but the most famous art work is certainly the wooden altar built by Wit Stwosz in the 15th century. Leave a Comment Directions: Marker Square
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Although St. Mary's is impressive enough from the outside, it's the spectacular interior of this church that will amaze you. Visitors should enter not through the main entrance, which is reserved for worshipers, but through the entrance on the south side where you'll have to pay a small fee to enter. Believe me, it's worth every Grotzy. The interior of St. Mary's is truly one of the most awe-inspiring works of art I have ever seen in person. Everything from floor to ceiling is so immaculate, colorful, and detailed that you can easily spend a long time inside this one church alone. If you go inside only one building the whole time you're in Krakow make sure this is the one. Leave a Comment
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situated in the heart of krakow, is well-known by all poles. mariacki church is the largest in kracow, and, after wawel, the most important place of worship in the city. built of red brick and with two towers of unequal height and form, it is not conventionally attractive. however, like many places here, it may well grow on you. if you fell in love and gonna take a wedding, do it only in mariacki church :) Leave a Comment Address: in the centre, in the corner of market square
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Whilst I was near the main square I decided to visit the large church near the corner of the city square. Upon entering the church it was crowded with people praying and placing lit candles next to thier choosen Icon. I am myself a Roman Catholic, but I was taken aback by the regimented way of worship here in Poland.. Anyway I bought some candles and placed them next to an Icon, and had a pray for my departed granmother..... Leave a Comment
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This, located in the middle of the city church is probably the most famous in Poland - it's called St. Mary's. Built around XIV century.
Late Gothic architecture, inside - a great altar with sculptures curved by Wit Stwosz (probably the biggest wooden Gothic altar in the world) Leave a Comment Address: The main market square, opposite Sukiennice
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The Veit Stoss Altar is a magnificent monument of medieval sculpture, designed for the worship of St Mary. It has continously aroused the admiration of many generations. It is the largest altar of its kind in Europe and was created in the years 1477 - 1489 and set up by the townspeople of Krakow.
It measures 11 x 13m, and the height of the realistically depicted figures is about 2.7m. The altar was carved from the oak wood (construction) and linden wood (sculptures).
The basis for the altar is formed by a predella with a genealogical tree of Christ and Mary. The cabinet of the retable is ornamented by four wings, two of which are immobile. When the cabinet is open, it depicts the mystery of Mary's joy from the Annunciation to the Descent of the Holy Ghost (on the wings), to the superb artistic scene of St. Mary's Falling Asleep, surrounded by the Apostles (in the centre), to the Assumption and Coronation in the presence of St Adalbert and St Stanislaus (above). When the wings of the cabinet are closed, there appear twelve scenes of Mary's Suffering. Leave a Comment
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This gothic church is a symbol of Krakow just equally well as the Wawel Castle and the Cloth Hall are. I love the view of it from Florianska St. as I approach the square, if I could hug a church I would hug this one! :-)
It first started as a romanesque church in 1222 and was gradually redone throughout the centuries. And it is really stunning! All of its interior is a work of art but some things inside are unique and simply priceless.
One of them is the 15th c. wooden altar by Wit Stwosz.
The church is also known for the trumpet call that is played every hour from the church's tower. So you will hear it often when in Krakow :-) The trumpet call stops suddenly to reflect the old legend of the trumpeter who was killed by a Tatar arrow when playing the call in the 13th c. Leave a Comment Directions: You'll see it in the corner of the Market Square.
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