Czarnochowice: Chapels, Marian Shrine and Pocket Park

Czarnochowice is home to a church, a three-storey stone wayside chapel and a shrine dedicated to the Mother of God; it also has the Ogród Hortensjowy Pocket Park. The history of the village is reflected in its varied architectural styles and traces of different periods. In the wider destination of Wieliczka, mining history, historic churches and designated routes are additional themes in their own right.

Church, Wayside Chapel and Marian Shrine

Pope John Paul II consecrated the cornerstone for the new church in Czarnochowice in 1983; Cardinal Franciszek Macharski had the cornerstone laid in 1990. Near the church stands a three-storey stone wayside chapel topped with a cross. Its niches contain statues of saints, including a polychrome statue of Saint John of Nepomuk. According to an inscription on the plinth, the chapel was restored in 1988.

The Marian shrine stands on a small hill. It was built in the second half of the 19th century and is adorned with statues and reliefs that show clear features of local folk art. It was restored in 2015. The shrine is topped by a stone Passion cross depicting the Crucifixion. The two religious structures each have distinctive details: the wayside chapel has statues of saints in its niches, while the shrine features folk-art-influenced reliefs and a cross. The restoration years mentioned also differ: 1988 for the wayside chapel and 2015 for the shrine.

The Ogród Hortensjowy Pocket Park adds another point of interest to the village. It is also located in Czarnochowice.

In the wider destination of Wieliczka: Mining and Architectural History

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines”. The underground Miners’ Route includes 7 to 14 mining chambers in the rugged workings around the oldest preserved Regis shaft; the route is up to 2 kilometres long. At Zamek Żupny, an archaeological exhibition traces the development of salt production from the Neolithic period to the Middle Ages. A notice dated 8 September 2026 reports that the castle and its courtyard are closed for renovation work, which is expected to continue until the end of 2028. Check the latest information before visiting.

The churches also offer insight into different architectural periods. The wooden Church of St Sebastian in Wieliczka dates from 1582 and contains Renaissance paintings. The Parish Church of St Clement was built in 1381 with funding from the townspeople; it preserves architectural elements from the 13th and 14th centuries. The Franciscan Church and Franciscan monastery in Wieliczka were the first stone church of the Reform Franciscan Province of Lesser Poland and were built in the first half of the 17th century.

Further architectural and commemorative history can be found in Grabie, Siercza and Raciborsko. The Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary in Grabie dates from 1742 and contains a Gothic stone baptismal font from the 15th century. The Ursuline convent in Siercza is housed in a former Lubomirski palace dating from around the turn of the 20th century. In Raciborsko, remains of a former manor farm complex survive, including a granary. The Jewish historic cemetery in Wieliczka dates from the 18th century. When considering dates like these, it is worth distinguishing between a building and its furnishings: in Grabie, for example, the church is newer than the baptismal font.

Routes and Getting Around in Wieliczka

The routes vary in type and course: the yellow route is a walking and cycling route between Wieliczka and Dobczyce. The red cycling route forms a 27-kilometre loop through Wieliczka and Siercza. The “Las i stawy na Grabówkach” ecological reserve lies along the walking and cycling route from Wieliczka. Check the current condition of the routes before setting out. Siercza also has a riding stable that offers horse riding with an instructor; check availability in advance.

For travel between Wieliczka and Kraków, a municipal overview dated 19 January 2024 lists metropolitan bus services. As this information is dated, check the current timetable when planning your trip. This allows you to take the cultural attractions and routes in the wider destination into account when planning, while the churches, shrine and pocket park are the specific local attractions in Czarnochowice.

Discover more destinations: Czyżów, Suchoraba, Kłaj, Zakrzów, Łysokanie, Wieliczka, Byszyce and Sułków.

Back to the wider travel overview: Wieliczka.