Pilgrimage to Licheń: What to See and How to Plan Your Visit

For many Poles, a pilgrimage to Licheń is one of the most important journeys to a Marian shrine after Jasna Góra. Licheń Stary in Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) draws pilgrims with its modest image of Our Lady of Sorrows, its monumental basilica, its vast grounds with chapels and a Golgotha, and an atmosphere of prayer that can feel very personal despite the crowds. In this guide we suggest what to see in Licheń, how to plan a stay of one or several days, and how to combine it with Gniezno and other places in Greater Poland.

We do not give prices, opening hours or service schedules, as these change. Before you travel, check the latest information on the shrine's official website lichen.pl.

The Licheń shrine: a short history

The story of the Licheń Shrine begins with a small image of Our Lady of Sorrows. According to tradition, Tomasz Kłossowski, gravely wounded at the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, experienced an encounter with Mary; years later he found an image resembling what he had seen and placed it in the Grąblin forest. In 1850 the shepherd Mikołaj Sikatka spoke of apparitions in which Mary called people to conversion, prayer and penance. When a cholera epidemic broke out in the area a few years later, people began coming to the image in crowds, and in 1852 it was moved to the church in Licheń.

Since 1949 the shrine has been in the care of the Marian Fathers. In 1967 Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński crowned the image with papal crowns, and Our Lady of Licheń is venerated as the Sorrowful Queen of Poland. The title captures the character of the place well: people come here with suffering, illness and family worries, and also with gratitude for graces received.

What to see in Licheń: the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows

Licheń's most recognisable landmark is the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen of Poland, the largest church in Poland. It was built from 1994 and consecrated in 2004. During his pilgrimage to Poland in 1999, John Paul II visited Licheń and blessed the church under construction.

The basilica is overwhelming in scale, but it is worth seeing it above all as a place of prayer. The interior can hold huge crowds of the faithful, yet it also has chapels where you can spend time in silence, go to confession or adore the Blessed Sacrament. You can take a lift or climb the basilica tower to see a panorama of the surrounding lakes; check the current access rules on site.

The miraculous image of Our Lady of Licheń

The heart of the shrine is the small image of Our Lady of Sorrows. Mary gazes at the White Eagle placed on her breast, and her face expresses sorrow and concern. The simplicity of the image contrasts with the immensity of the basilica, and that is exactly why so many pilgrims spend most of their time before it.

A good habit is to plan your prayer before the image at the start of your stay rather than at the end, when tiredness gets the better of concentration. You can leave intentions and thanksgivings at the image, and the votive books and plaques show how many people have found help here.

How to prepare spiritually for the pilgrimage

Before you set off, think about what you are bringing to Our Lady of Sorrows. Many pilgrims write down their intentions on a piece of paper, their own and those entrusted to them by loved ones, so as not to forget anything before the image. It is also good to plan confession and choose one prayer to accompany the whole journey, for example the Rosary prayed in the car or coach. Licheń is a place where the call to conversion and penance rings out particularly clearly, so the pilgrimage can become an opportunity to put in order matters that have long been waiting for courage. If you are travelling with your family, talk beforehand about why you are going; children then find it easier to experience time at the shrine as more than an outing.

The shrine grounds: churches, chapels and paths

Licheń is not just the basilica. The shrine covers extensive grounds with gardens, chapels, monuments and places of prayer. Set aside time for an unhurried walk, as many spots only reveal themselves once you leave the main avenues.

On the shrine grounds you will find, among other things:

• the Church of St Dorothy, the older parish church linked to the history of devotion to the image;
• the Grąblin forest, with chapels commemorating the places of Mikołaj Sikatka's apparitions and the spot where the image originally hung;
• numerous chapels, monuments and statues dedicated to saints, Polish history and victims of war;
• places of silent prayer, which are good to return to in the evening when the flow of pilgrims eases.

The paths between the various places are fairly long, so comfortable footwear is essential. Older people and those with limited mobility should plan their route in advance and check what assistance is available.

The Golgotha in Licheń

One of the most distinctive places is Licheń's Golgotha, an artificial hill with a Way of the Cross, chapels and grottoes. You climb it along winding paths, passing the successive Stations of the Passion, and the whole thing resembles an elaborate miniature calvary.

The Golgotha is the best place to pray the Stations of the Cross at your own pace or with a group. It is a good place to pray for loved ones who are suffering and to reflect on your own cross. If you come with children or older people, plan breaks, as the paths go up and down.

How to plan a pilgrimage to Licheń

Licheń Stary lies in Greater Poland, near Konin, on Lake Licheń. The most convenient way to get there is by car or by coach with a parish group; rail travellers usually go to Konin and continue by local transport or taxi. Check current connections before you travel.

How much time to set aside

1. One day is enough for Mass, prayer before the miraculous image, a short walk around the grounds and the Stations of the Cross on the Golgotha.
2. Two days allow an unhurried visit to the basilica, the Church of St Dorothy and the Grąblin forest, plus the evening services.
3. Three days or more let you combine Licheń with Gniezno and other places in Greater Poland, as described below.

When to go

The busiest times are the Marian feasts, especially around the holy days of Our Lady, and summer weekends. The shrine is full of life then, but expect queues and harder parking. If you are looking for quiet, choose a weekday outside the season. There are pilgrim houses on the shrine grounds, but during major feasts it is worth booking accommodation in advance.

You can break your route into stages in the pilgrimage planner and follow celebrations at the shrine in the events calendar.

Licheń and Gniezno: how to combine the two

A very popular combination is a trip to Licheń and Gniezno Cathedral. Gniezno is the cradle of Christianity in Poland and the first seat of an archbishopric. The cathedral holds the relics of St Adalbert (Wojciech), patron of Poland, and the famous Romanesque Gniezno Doors depict scenes from his life and martyrdom. It was at the tomb of St Adalbert that the Congress of Gniezno took place in the year 1000.

The journey between Licheń and Gniezno is relatively short, so many groups visit both shrines on one trip. It is good to start in Gniezno, where you discover the beginnings of the Church in Poland, and finish in Licheń with prayer before the image of Our Lady.

Other places worth visiting in Greater Poland

If you have more time, Greater Poland offers many places that beautifully complete a pilgrimage:

• Poznań and Ostrów Tumski with the cathedral, where the first rulers of Poland are buried;
• Lednica, linked to the origins of the Polish state and known for its great youth gatherings;
• Ląd on the Warta, with its historic monastery complex;
• Kalisz, with the Shrine of St Joseph;
• Gostyń, with the shrine on the Holy Mountain (Święta Góra).

When planning a longer route, take a look at our guide to Marian shrines in Poland, and on the map of pilgrimage places you can see which shrines lie closest to each other.

Practical tips for pilgrims

A few simple tips will make your stay in Licheń more peaceful:

• Plan at least one Mass and time for confession; confessors are usually easy to find at the shrine, but check the times beforehand.
• Bring comfortable shoes and clothing for changeable weather, as the grounds are extensive and largely open.
• Dress appropriately for a place of prayer.
• Carry water and something to eat, especially on feast days.
• If you are travelling with a group, agree on a meeting point, because it is easy to get separated on such large grounds.

A songbook with Marian hymns will also be useful on the way, and if you are thinking about a longer walking pilgrimage, see our pilgrimage packing list.

On the way to Licheń with companions

Licheń is visited both by large parish groups and by individual pilgrims. If you are travelling alone and would like to talk to someone, pray the Rosary together or walk the Stations of the Cross on the Golgotha, you can use the Find a travel companion feature. Visibility is off by default; you switch it on for 1, 2 or 4 hours, and others see only an approximate zone. An invitation has to be accepted, the chat opens only after that, and blocking and reporting are free. We write about making new acquaintances safely in our guide how to find a pilgrimage companion.

Prefer an organised trip? Browse pilgrimage trips. And if you are planning another journey after Licheń, see our guide to the John Paul II trail, which links Wadowice, Kraków, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and Jasna Góra.

Frequently asked questions

How much time do you need for a pilgrimage to Licheń?

One day is enough for the basic programme: Mass, prayer before the miraculous image and the Stations of the Cross on the Golgotha. If you want to see the whole shrine and the Grąblin forest at a relaxed pace, plan two days.

Where is the miraculous image of Our Lady of Licheń?

The image of Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen of Poland, is in the Licheń basilica, where it is the main place of prayer for pilgrims. Before you go, check the shrine's website for the times of services before the image.

Is Licheń accessible for older and disabled people?

The basilica and the main places are equipped to receive large groups, including older people, but the grounds are extensive and the Golgotha has steep paths. It is worth contacting the shrine in advance to ask about the assistance available.

Can you stay overnight in Licheń?

Yes, there are pilgrim houses at the shrine and other accommodation in the area. During major feasts places fill up quickly, so book ahead.

How do you combine a pilgrimage to Licheń with Gniezno?

The simplest plan is two days: the first in Gniezno with the cathedral and the relics of St Adalbert, the second in Licheń. The distance between them also allows an intensive day trip, though you will then have less time for prayer.

When is Licheń least crowded?

Usually on weekdays outside the summer holidays and away from the major Marian feasts. This is a good time for those seeking quiet who want to linger before the image.

A pilgrimage to Licheń can be a short trip or the start of a longer journey through Greater Poland. If you want to plan it well, create a free account on Bratnio. You can save Licheń and Gniezno on the map, break the route into stages in the journey planner, add a review of the shrine and photos to your own story, and, if you wish, meet a travel companion on the spot.