Things to do in

Częstochowa

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.

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.

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.

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.

Start your day at 9:00 AM from the center of Krakow, and head out on a journey to your first destination, known as the religious capital of Poland. Discover the home to the famous Pauline monastery and treasured, yet mysterious, Our Lady of Częstochowa painting, both drawing devoted pilgrims from all across the globe. Learn the incredible history of the painting, from its mysterious and ambiguous origins, to the many miracles it has been tied to over the centuries, continuing to captivate Catholics to this day. See why this monastery was so close to the heart of Pope John Paul II, and why it was chosen as the place to permanently display his bullet–torn sash after his 1981 assassination attempt. Relax during your day as friendly and knowledgeable guides help you through the rich history and maginificent culture of the area.

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.

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. On the way back we alter our route slightly to admire the most spectacular limestone rock formations typical of the Kraków-Częstochowa Uplands. This allows us to visit the only remaining castle of the so called Eagle Nest Trail at Pieskowa Skała.

Visit the heart of Polish Catholicism at Czestochowa, world-renowned for the famous Pauline Monastery of Jasna Gora. Home of the Black Madonna painting and shrine of the Virgin Mary, it is the third most popular pilgrim site in the world for Catholics. The 6-hour private tour from Krakow travels to Czestochowa on the Warta River, where you will explore the monastery sites, including the hilltop monastery itself, with its commanding belltower. Discover rich displays of votive offerings in the Treasury, including rosaries and scepters, dedicated to the Black Madonna from the 14th century to the present. The national shrine of Poland, the monastery was built in the 17th century, and during your trip you will see an exhibition devoted to the Monastery’s history. But the tour highlight is a visit to the icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa in the Chapel of the Black Madonna. Then, explore the delightful grounds, where 14 Stations of the Cross are represented by bronze statues that are the focus of pilgrims every year, some moving from one station to the next on their knees.

Jasna Gora Monastery is a Mecca for pious Catholics from Poland and from abroad, who come to pray to the holy image of Black Madonna of Czestochowa. In 2011, Jasna Gora was visited by 3.2 million pilgrims from 80 countries. During an approximately 7.5-hour long tour from Krakow to Czestochowa, explore the Jasna Gora Monastery and Sanctuary, visit the shrine of Black Madonna, and the Treasury with museum exhibition. Jasna Gora has been the major shrine to the Virgin Mary and the country's most popular pilgrimage destination since the 17th century. Aside from the places of worship on Jasna Gora, there is also an exhibition dedicated to the history of the place, which will tell you, among others, about the brave defense of the Monastery during the 1655 Siege of Jasna Góra. Every year, pilgrims from all around Poland come to Jasna Gora to contemplate the Passion of Christ by following the Stations of the Cross, represented by large bronze statues surrounded by beautiful greenery. Some of the pilgrims even decide to move from one station to the next on their knees. Also, every summer many pilgrims begin their journey to Jasna Gora on foot to meet there in the mid-August.

Discover the religious history of Częstochowa and marvel at the famous "Black Madonna" on this 6 to 8-hour private tour. Enjoy comfortable hotel pickup and drop-off from Krakow, and exclusive guidance around Częstochowa's Pauline Monastery in the language of your choice. This historical tour includes the beautiful chapel of The Virgin of Jasna Góra, which houses the icon of "The Black Madonna", and the majestic Church of The Holy Cross. Gaze at these ornate religious treasures and marvel at the defensive structures that surround the monastery, such as its imposing gates and bastions. After or before your visit to the monastery, you can take your time to walk around town or have a meal. Your driver will be waiting for you when you are ready to return to Krakow.