Zabawa: Sanctuary and History
Accommodation in Zabawa
Zabawa can be explored through the Sanctuary of Blessed Karolina and landmarks that bear witness to the town’s history. The parish church was elevated to the status of a sanctuary in 2002; an exhibition about Blessed Karolina’s life, martyrdom and cult was added that same year. In the centre of the town there is also a military cemetery from the First World War. An outdoor game and an annual tent retreat offer further connections to its spiritual heritage. Religious history and local remembrance are therefore central to planning a trip, complemented by specific activities and a cycling connection.
File:Cmentarz wojenny nr 260 Zabawa, Małopolska.JPG
Photo: Zygmunt Put Zetpe0202 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Sanctuary and the Karolina Exhibition
The parish church’s elevation to sanctuary status in 2002 and the opening of the exhibition on 10 November that same year are two separate historical milestones. The exhibition is located in the sanctuary church and covers the life of Blessed Karolina, her martyrdom and her cult. These themes trace a path from her life story through her martyrdom to religious veneration, bringing together biographical and spiritual perspectives.
Outdoor Game and Tent Retreat
The outdoor game “Odkryj Skarby Zabawy” takes place on the grounds of the Sanctuary of Blessed Karolina in Zabawa and introduces participants to notable places connected with Blessed Karolina, regional history and the spiritual heritage of this place. The “Miasteczko Modlitewne” is also held in the fields near the sanctuary: a seven-day tent retreat that brings together around 200 young people each year. The outdoor game connects several themes with notable places, while the retreat offers a shared seven-day experience. If either event is important to your stay, check the specific event dates in advance.
Military Cemetery No. 260 in the Town Centre
Military Cemetery No. 260, dating from the First World War, is located in the centre of Zabawa next to the parish cemetery. The site has a regular hexagonal layout, and six tall, uninscribed gravestones stand on its grounds. It is likely that the graves of 77 Austro-Hungarian, 11 German and 9 Russian soldiers are located there. The town-centre location, the layout of the site and the probable attribution of the graves are different aspects of this historic place.
Pilgrim Route and Cycling Tour
On 12 June 2026, the municipality announced that the sanctuary had officially been included on the Camino de Santiago. The Camino de Santiago leads to Santiago de Compostela and is one of the best-known pilgrimage routes in Europe. Check the specific route regulations before travelling. A municipal audio guide for a cycling tour, on a page dated 12 June 2019, lists the Dakota aircraft wreck as a stop in Zabawa. The Camino gives Zabawa a connection to European pilgrimage, while the audio guide identifies a specific stop on a cycling tour.
Discover more destinations: Janowice, Rychwald, Wał-Ruda, Zbylitowska Góra, Ołpiny, Milówka, Pleśna, Rzuchowa.
For the wider travel overview: Tarnów.
