St. Mary’s Basilica

St. Mary's Basilica, officially the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of Krakow’s most recognizable and significant landmarks. Located in the Main Square, it is not only a place of religious worship but also a symbol of the city’s rich history and culture.

Construction of the current Gothic church began in the 14th century on the site of an earlier Romanesque church from the 13th century, which was destroyed. Building St. Mary’s took many years, with its completion at the turn of the 15th century. The architecture of St. Mary’s Basilica exemplifies the brick Gothic style typical of Central Europe.

St. Mary’s Basilica features two distinctive towers: the taller called Hejnalica, 82 meters high, from which a trumpet call is played every hour, and the shorter tower topped with a Renaissance cupola. The church’s facade is richly decorated, and the main entrance leads through a beautiful portal.

The interior of St. Mary’s Basilica fascinates with its richness and variety of decorations. The most notable piece is the famous main altar crafted by Wit Stwosz between 1477 and 1489. This altar, regarded as a masterpiece of Gothic sculpture, depicts scenes from the life of Mary and Jesus, with the central point being the scene of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The church's vaults are covered with polychromes by Jan Matejko, a renowned Polish painter, who, along with his students, adorned the interior with biblical scenes and decorative motifs. Stained glass windows from the late 14th century let in colorful light, creating a unique atmosphere.

From the Hejnalica tower, the St. Mary’s Bugle Call is played hourly, one of the most characteristic sounds of Krakow. The melody abruptly breaks off, according to legend, commemorating a trumpeter shot in the throat during a Tatar invasion in the 13th century.