St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow

We have visited numerous churches and cathedrals on our travels and while all boast of beautiful interiors (with sculptures and decorations) once in a while you walk into a church that is simply stunning. The St Mary’s Basilica in Kraków is one such church. Located in the Main Market Square in Kraków's Old Town, this 14th-century church is an excellent example of Polish Gothic architecture. It looks beautiful from the outside and as you walk in you are sure to be stunned by its grandiose interiors. Particularly impressive is the Veit Stoss altarpiece, a beautifully carved wooden altar said to be the largest Gothic altarpiece in the world.

The church stands tall at 262 ft and looks stunning from all angles. Every hour, a trumpet signal called the 'Hejnał Mariacki' is played from the highest tower of the church. It is a traditional, five-note Polish anthem that is played by a team of four buglers (working in shifts) in each of the four cardinal directions.

The interiors of the church are spectacular and imposing; definitely, one of the most beautifully decorated churches we have seen so far. Whichever direction you look in, you will be impressed. From the stained glass windows to the beautiful ceiling and from the side chapels to the wall paintings, everything is excellent with a lot of detailed artwork.

Wooden Altar of Veit Stoss

The pièce de résistance is, however, the wooden altarpiece. It is one of the most popular works of Veit Stoss, a German sculptor. The intricate altar was completed in 1489 and is considered a sculptural masterpiece. During World War II, the dismantled altarpiece was shipped to the Third Reich on the orders of the Governor-General. It was recovered from the Nuremberg Castle and brought back to Poland in mid-1940s. It underwent restoration work and was put back at St. Mary's Basilica in 1957.

It is a stunning piece of work with realistically sculpted figurines and excellent depiction of various events. The attention to detail is fascinating. No wonder it is ranked as one of Veit Stoss' best works.

Visiting the St. Mary's Basilica

The basilica is open every day from 11:30 to 18:00 except on Sundays and special days when the timings are 14:00 to 18:00. The entry fee is 10 Zloty for adults, 8 Zloty for 65+ and 5 Zloty for students and children. You can also climb up the St Mary’s Tower which is open from March-December and the tickets are priced at 15 Zloty for adults and 10 Zloty for those 7-18 years old.

We also paid 5 Zloty for the photography (camera charges). If you like photography, then I would recommend paying the 5 Zloty camera fee as you certainly will be taking a lot of photographs of the interiors. The entry fee is also totally worth it. Definitely a must-see while in Kraków.

Another must-do while in Krakow is joining a food and vodka tour!