Częstochowa

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. It is also possible to reserve a private guided tour on request.

This 9-hour tour will start with a pick-up from your hotel, hostel or apartment. After a 40 minute drive, you will arrive at the main square of Wadowice. Before you visit the Museum of John Paul II, you will see the front of the parish church of Karol Wojtyla, where little Karol was baptized and the high school he attended. A visit to the museum will take around 90 minutes after which you will have a coffee break and taste the famous papal cream cakes known as kremowka. On your arrival to Czestochowa, you will begin your sightseeing of the Jasna Gora complex together with the chapel of miraculous painting of Black Madonna. Throughout your visit, you will be guided and assisted by one of the Pauline monks who serve in the Jasna Gora Monastery. Before heading back to Krakow, have lunch in one of a local restaurants.

Discover the religious history of Częstochowa and admire the famous "Black Madonna" on this full-day tour. Enjoy convenient transport and an exclusive guide to the Częstochowa Pauline Monastery. This historic tour includes the beautiful Chapel of Our Lady of Jasna Góra, which houses the icon of the Black Madonna, and the majestic Church of St. Cross. Gaze at these ornate religious treasures and marvel at the defensive structures surrounding the monastery, such as the imposing gates and bastions. After visiting the monastery, you can take some time to walk around the city, visit the souvenir shop, indulge in private prayer or have a meal.

Depart Krakow and travel by bus to Ojców National Park to marvel at the limestone rock formations of the Jurassic age, including the remarkable 25-meter tall limestone column known as Hercules' Club. Discover some of the caves inhabited by 17 species of bats. See the Renaissance castle on the limestone cliffs of Pieskowa Skala as part of a defensive chain built by King Kazimierz Wielki in the middle of the 14th century. Follow part of the famous marked Trail of the Eagles’ Nests that links 25 medieval castles between Częstochowa and Krakow. Benefit from the services of an amazing guide for 4 hours to make your trip unforgettable. Get off the beaten path and discover parts of the park that most tourists never see.

Our tour takes you to a place which receives around 5 million visitors a year (including over 150,000 pilgrims on foot). After arriving at the monastery, we will visit the chapel of the miraculous painting of the Black Madonna, which is the embodiment of the attachment to the Cult of Mary so typical of the Catholic faith in Poland. Next we visit the Basilica, which is the main church of the monastery. You can also visit the 600th-Anniversary Museum and the Treasury on your own, if you wish, or attend Mass while others on the tour have a break for lunch and a visit to a souvenir shop.

Begin your tour with pickup at your hotel in Kraków, then travel in an air-conditioned van for approximately 1 hour to Wadowice, the hometown of Pope John Paul II. Upon arrival, have a short break before going to the parish church on Main Market Square where the future pope was baptized. Marvel at numerous chapels, holy paintings, and the famous baptismal font as you learn about the humble beginnings of one of the greatest Poles in history.  Then, make your way inside the Family Home of John Paul II and take a tour with an accredited guide available in various languages. Spend at least 1 hour and 20 minutes in the museum. Later, visit the secondary school that Karol Wojtyła, as the pope was then known, attended. Take a nice picture of the monument of the young pope. On the second half of the tour, head to the Jasna Góra Monastery in the town of Częstochowa, about 130 kilometers (around 80 miles) away from Kraków in southern Poland. Once there, explore a famous Polish shrine to Our Lady of Częstochowa, which constitutes one of Poland’s most visited pilgrimage sites.  Take a guided tour of the monastery with one of the Pauline monks who will show you the treasury filled with priceless gifts and accompany you to the chapel in the shrine. Finally, marvel at the miraculous painting of the Black Madonna and have a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. The tour concludes with drop-off at your hotel in Kraków.

Starting in the city of Wroclaw, journey to Czestochowa and admire the Polish countryside whilst on the 3-hour drive. Upon arrival at Czestochowa, visit the city’s famous Monastery, one of the most important locations in the lives of Polish Catholics. Take yourself on a self guided tour of the Monastery, or hire a local guide to teach you all about the rich history of the site. At the Monastery, marvel at the world-famous Black Madonna, which is shrouded in numerous legends of its origins. Some say the icon was painted on a cedar table-top from the house of the Holy Family by St. Luke, whilst other tales tell of its discovery in Jerusalem in the year 326 by St. Helena who brought it to Constantinople and presented it to her son, Constantine the Great. Wander around this iconic landmark and learn about the Catholic faith and how it has impacted the history of Poland. Decide for yourself which tales to believe about the origins of the Black Madonna and experience the unique religious atmosphere at this sacred location.

Visit the basilica and monastery located in the city of Częstochowa, one of the most important centers of religious worship in Poland. Regarded by many as Poland's spiritual capital, Częstochowa has been a site of pilgrimage for Poles for hundreds of years. High on the mountain top, the monastery holds the most famous shrine to the Virgin Mary in Poland and  is also home to a Black Madonna painting rumored to have been painted by St. Luke. The Black Madonna, depicting the Mother of God with the Christ Child, is believed to have miraculous powers by those who visit her. Then, visit the Shrine of the Divine Mercy, located in the southern part of Kraków. The shrine is world's largest center of devotion to 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'll 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.

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.

Jasna Góra is one of the most renowned places of worship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and has been the most important pilgrimage center in Poland for hundreds of years. Around 5 million tourists visit every year (including over 150,000 pilgrims on foot). After arriving at the monastery, we will visit the chapel of the miraculous image of the Black Madonna, which is the embodiment of the Marian cult, and a symbol of the Catholic and Orthodox faith in Poland. Then we will visit the Basilica, the main church of the monastery, as well as the 600th Anniversary Museum and the Treasury. You can attend the Holy Mass if you wish, while other tour participants have a lunch break and visit the gift shop.