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St. Mary's Church (Kosciol Mariacki)

The Mariacki Church is, after the Wawel Castle, the best known Krakow landmark. The medieval basilica is situated on the northeastern corner of the Main Square, and from its higher tower, every hour a trumpeter plays Cracow's famous bugle-call. Apart from being a tourist attraction, St. Mary's Church is also an active place of religious worship, and Catholic Masses are celebrated there each day in Polish and Latin.

The Mariacki Church in the Medieval Times

The brick Kosciol Mariacki was built in the 15^th century, replacing an older, Romanesque church that had been standing in what is now the corner of the Main Square since 1222. It is a typical example of Polish Gothic architecture, and has served as a model for many other churches in Poland.

The first thing one notices about St. Mary's Church's exterior is that its two towers are significantly different both in height and design. One of Krakow's most known legends sheds light on this strange fact. According to legend, Krakow's residents asked two brothers – both skilled architects – to build the two towers of the Mariacki Church. It soon turned out that the younger one was not as masterful as the other, and his tower was growing much slower. Envious of his brother's success, he killed him with a knife. Having realized what he had done, the young brother climbed the high tower of the St. Mary's Church and threw himself from one of the windows. The knife with which he committed the crime can still be seen hanging above one of the doors of Sukiennice.

The Interior of the Mariacki Church

As for the interior of the Mariacki Church, it is simply breathtaking, both quality- and quantity-wise. The highlight is of course the fabulous altarpiece, carved by Veit Stoss. The 15^th century masterpiece is the biggest Gothic altarpiece in the world, and the realistically carved figures of St. Mary and the Saints are about 2.7 meters high. The main scenes presented are the St. Mary's Falling Asleep and St. Mary's Assumption, and the panels around it illustrate the six scenes of the joys of Mary.

But those who leave the Kosciol Mariacki after seeing just the altarpiece are making a huge mistake, as the interior of the church is literally packed with wonders. The Gothic baptismal font, the baroque interior decoration or the 19^th century polychrome and stained glass created by three of Poland's greatest artists: Jan Matejko, Józef Mehoffer and Stanisław Wyspiański – each of these alone would be a good reason to visit Krakow and the basilica. And no visit of Krakow's largest church is complete without climbing the 239 steps up the tower and seeing Poland's most beautiful panorama.

Attend a Mass in the St. Mary's Church in Krakow

Those who want to attend a mass are welcome, and will not be bothered, since during services St. Mary's Church is closed to tourists. The masses are usually celebrated in the mornings, and some of them are in Latin. Religion aside, some say that seeing the Catholic Service in a place like the Mariacki Church in Krakow is an unforgettable experience in itself, as watching the Gothic basilica packed with people and hearing the Latin phrases literally sends shivers down one's spine.