Pilgrim's guide
Wadowice - pilgrim's guide
Photos: Daniel.zolopa · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wadowice is the town where Karol Wojtyła, later St John Paul II, was born in 1920. The heart of the pilgrimage is the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the market square, where he was baptised. This guide will help you plan a day in the Pope's home town, on your own or with a group.
Machine-translated guide.
Why go
In Wadowice everything is close together: the basilica with its baptismal font, the Wojtyła family home turned into a museum, the school, the market square and the Discalced Carmelite friary. In a single day you can walk the streets young Karol walked and see the world the Pope grew up in.
For many pilgrims the most moving moment is praying at the font where John Paul II was baptised. It is a good place to renew your own baptismal promises and give thanks for the faith handed on in your family.
A short history
The first mention of a church in Wadowice dates from 1325. The wooden church was destroyed by fire in 1440, and of the brick church built in the mid-15th century the Gothic chancel survives. After another great fire in 1726 the church was rebuilt in late Baroque style in 1792-1798. In 1836 its dedication was changed to the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and at the end of the 19th century a sundial with the inscription "Time passes, eternity awaits" was placed on the south wall.
In this church Karol Wojtyła was baptised, made his first confession and First Communion, and served for years as an altar boy. After his election as Pope in 1978 he visited his home town in 1979, 1991 and 1999. In 1992 he gave the church the title of minor basilica, and on 16 June 1999 he crowned the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. During the same visit he recalled the Wadowice cream cakes (kremówki) he ate after his school-leaving exams. In 2006 Benedict XVI visited the basilica, and on 27 April 2014 John Paul II was declared a saint.
Getting there
Wadowice lies on the River Skawa, about 50 km south-west of Kraków. It is easy to reach from Kraków and from Silesia, and the town combines easily with Kalwaria Zebrzydowska.
- by car: from Kraków via Skawina and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska; the museum has no car park of its own, but the tourist information centre lists the town car parks
- by bus or minibus: regular services from Kraków and nearby towns
- by train: regional services via Kalwaria Zebrzydowska; the town's tourist information centre collects current timetables
- by coach with a group: book Mass at the basilica and museum tickets in advance
When to go
Most pilgrims come between May and October, especially at weekends. Outside the season it is quieter, and the basilica and museum are easier to visit.
- 18 May - anniversary of Karol Wojtyła's birth
- 16 October - anniversary of his election as Pope
- Thursday after the evening Mass - novena to St John Paul II
- third Saturday of the month - evening Mass with a procession to the font and renewal of baptismal promises
What to see and experience
- the baptismal chapel with the font where Karol Wojtyła was baptised
- the papal chapel with relics of St John Paul II
- the chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help with the image crowned by the Pope in 1999
- wall paintings from 2002-2003 illustrating the teaching of John Paul II, and the sundial on the south wall
- the Family Home of John Paul II Museum on Kościelna Street, right by the market square
- the Karol Wojtyła Trail around the town: the market square, his former schools, the Catholic House
- the Discalced Carmelite friary with a relic of the scapular worn by the Pope
Practical information
- dress: modest; services are often taking place in the basilica, so visit quietly and not during Mass
- groups with their own priest arrange a Mass time with the parish by phone or e-mail and are asked to be punctual
- intentions for the novena can be left in the box in front of the papal chapel
- museum: tickets are best bought online in advance, especially from May to October; a guided tour lasts about an hour
- a guide to the town can be booked through the tourist information centre
- times of Masses, confession and museum opening: check the basilica's and the museum's websites
Accommodation and food
Most pilgrims visit Wadowice as a day trip, staying overnight in Kraków or Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. In the town itself there are guesthouses and rooms listed in the town's register of accommodation. It is easy to find a meal on the market square, and for many people trying a kremówka cream cake has become part of the visit.
Tips from pilgrims
- Museum tickets can sell out in season, so booking online saves stress and waiting.
- Basilica first, then the museum: praying at the font gives meaning to the rest of the visit.
- On weekends in season the market square and basilica are crowded; mornings are noticeably quieter.
- Wadowice combines well with Kalwaria Zebrzydowska in one day, but do not plan too much, as each place needs time.
- It is worth dropping in on an evening service, when there are fewer tourists and the parish is praying in the basilica.
On foot and on the trail
The Karol Wojtyła Trail leads on foot through places connected with the Pope's childhood and youth: from the family home and the basilica through the market square, the former primary school and the Catholic House. The tourist information centre provides a map of the trail, brochures and a mobile app. Every year walking pilgrimages to Jasna Góra also set out from Wadowice.
Frequently asked questions
Where was John Paul II baptised?
In the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wadowice, on the market square. The font stands in the baptismal chapel and is one of the main places of prayer for pilgrims.
Do I need to book tickets for the Family Home of John Paul II?
Booking is not compulsory, but the museum recommends buying tickets online, especially from May to October, because the number of entries is limited.
How much time do I need for Wadowice?
Half a day is usually enough for the basilica, the museum and a short walk round the market square. A full day lets you walk the Karol Wojtyła Trail at a relaxed pace and visit the Carmelite friary.
How do I get from Kraków to Wadowice?
By car via Skawina and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, by bus or minibus from Kraków, or by regional train. The Wadowice tourist information centre provides current timetables.
Where does the papal cream cake come from?
During his visit to Wadowice on 16 June 1999, John Paul II recalled that after his school-leaving exams he used to go with friends to eat kremówki cream cakes. Since then the cake has been associated with the Pope and the town.
