St. Mary's Church, Krakow

There are two entrances to the Basilica of Virgin Mary's. The main entrance (at the end of the nave) is designated for prayers.
The entrance for visitors (on my picture) is located on southern wall of the basilica (right from main entrance) - just from a small, lovely square called St. Barbara Square (next tip).

On right side you have a ticket office: pay 4 zl (approx. $1/1 euro) for entry. If you want to know more buy a detailed guide to the basilica, available in English, French, German and Polish - at least when I was there in October 2003. There were postcards (0.5 and 1.0 zl) and ilustrated albums available there as well.

Keep silence inside, do not disturb prayers, do NOT use flash (you need a tripod or good hand hehe).

Whenever you are inside this dear to every Pole church light a candle like we did. Some people believe that your wishes will be fulfilled that time. Hmm... I don't know. I lighted the candle for my family - real and virtual one :-).
Small tip appreciated there.

There are a few audio-visual tourist information units inside the Basilica of Virgin Mary's. Put 2 zl (less than $0.5) inside and choose your language: English, German, French or Polish. Hmm... I would add Spanish, Ukrainian, Russian, Italian, Japanese - any more ideas?
Compare the reality and images on the screen. Welcome :-)

Look up behind the main altar of the Basilica of Virgin Mary. There are probably the biggest stained-glass windows I could ever see although I was lucky to visit a lot of great cathedrals and churches around Europe.

Among them my favourite one - in Toledo, Spain. Really impressive - either basilica in Krakow and younger cathedral in Toledo.

Ornate stalls in the chancel appear an outstanding achievement of the early- Baroque woodwork. Enlarge my picture, please.
They are located on both sides of front part of basilica (the chancel) - sitting there is forbidden either for prayers and for visitors.

Just a few explanations:
CHANCEL is the part of a church containing the altar where the priests and choir sit.
STALLS are special sittings in a church for important persons usually located close to altar.

Pay attention on architectural details of chapels inside basilica. Don't they look amazing?
History, history, a lot of history. No wonder - King's city of Krakow was the capitol of Poland, the most powerful European country loooong time ago (16-17th century).

If you are interested take more time and buy detailed guide book to basilica available in English, German and French in ticket office.

There are 12 different chapels to visit around huge interior of Basilica of Virgin Mary. Some of them look amazing - look at my picture of a chapel in front right part of basilica. This one was the best lighted which made possible to take a picture without using forbidden flash.

In 1491 great medieval scuptorer Veit Stoss sculptured a stone crucifix that now is part of the late-Baroque altarpiece in the south aisle. And probably he sculptured the magnificent huge crucifix above the nave as well - look at my picture.

Sepulchral monuments of the Krakow rich and worthy fill every corner of the basilica and its twelve chapels. Just walk and admire.