Marcyporeba: Wooden Church, Pilgrimage Route and History

Marcyporeba (Polish: Marcyporęba) brings together religious traditions and traces from several centuries in its local history. The wooden St. Martin’s Church, two routes with different focuses and the ruins in Podlesie offer several concrete starting points for planning a trip. Marcyporęba lies on the northern side of the Pasmo Draboża.

Wooden Church and Religious Tradition

The wooden St. Martin’s Church was built in 1670 and consecrated in 1677. It is one of two wooden churches in the municipality of Brzeźnica on the Wooden Architecture Trail. As a protected immovable monument, it has been listed in the voivodeship register under number 599 since 16 May 1934. Inside are a Gothic crucifix from the 15th century and a Renaissance baptismal font dating from 1545. Both works predate the church building itself.

Below the church, on “Spod dzwonnicy” Street, stands a badly damaged wayside shrine made of natural-colored sandstone. The 19th-century structure depicts holy patrons. The parish’s longstanding traditions also include two indulgence celebrations: one in July for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and one in November in honor of St. Martin. The occasions therefore differ both in month and in their religious dedication.

Routes with Different Focuses

The pilgrimage route to the Marian shrine of Kalwaria leads via Kopytówka, Marcyporęba and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska; its stated length is 15 kilometers. Another route starts in Marcyporęba, passes the western summit of Trawna Góra, the Brodawka Valley and Moczarka, and then joins the yellow trail from Kalwaria Zebrzydowska to Wadowice. This route is listed as 14 kilometers long.

The two routes have different focuses: the 15-kilometer route centers on the Marian shrine as a pilgrimage destination, while the 14-kilometer route passes named high points and landscape features before joining the yellow trail. Check the current route before setting out. The listed distances differ by only one kilometer, so the destination and waypoints may matter more when choosing than the distance alone. A parking lot is listed at the tourist waypoint in Marcyporęba. If you are arriving by car, check in advance whether the parking lot is available for your visit.

Podlesie and Earlier History

The ruins of a former Radwanite fortification were discovered in Podlesie, a hamlet in the northern part of Marcyporęba. The structure existed before the 14th century. It was intended to monitor a branch of the route along the Soła and Vistula rivers, which led from Kraków to Silesia and the Moravian Gate. The site therefore represents not only local history, but also a historical connection between these more distant regions.

For the broader travel overview: Nowe Dwory.