Skalka, next to Wawel is the second most important place in the history and culture of Poland. The baroque church dedicated to St Michael Archangel and St Stanislaw stands on Mount Skalka along with the monastery buildings of the Order of Pauline Fathers.
FEATURES, ORIGINS, VALUES AND LEGAL PROTECTION
According to legend, the Bishop of Krakow, Stanislaw Szczepanowski, was killed on Mount Skalka in 1079, at the hands of King Boleslaw Smialy. A single-naved crypt, partially carved into the rock, was built under the church in 1792. In 1876, there was a proposal to establish a Crypt of Merit on this site by the Jagiellonian University professor, Joseph Lepkowski. The crypt was opened in May 1880 and the exhumed remains of Jan Dlugosz were placed inside. The Crypt of Merit also holds the ashes of Wincenty Pol, Lucjan Siemienski, Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski, Teofil Lenartowicz, Adam Asnyk, Henryk Siemiradzki, Stanislaw Wyspianski, Jacek Malczewski, Karol Szymanowski, Ludwik Solski, Tadeusz Banachiewicz and Czeslaw Milosz.
In recent years, there was a proposal to development the Crypt of Merit and create the “National Pantheon on Mount Skalka”.
TOUR ORGANISER
Monastery and Church of the Order of Pauline Fathers on Skalka
31 - 065 Krakow
Ul. Skaleczna 15
Tel: 48 12 423 09 48
ACCESSIBILITY OF FACILITIES BY VISITORS
The date and time of the tour to be arranged by phone
Information can also be obtained from the monk at the gates of the monastery.
The site is not suitable for people with physical disabilities.
Sightseeing can be unaccompanied or with a guide.
Appropriate dress is recommended for places of worship.