Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is the small city in Malopolska, located in the foot of „Zar” Hill, about 15 km from Wadowice, near international road Cieszyn-Katowice. Situated in a valley between two rages of short, but beautiful mountains, on the border line of “Beskid Makowski” and “Pogorze Wielickie”. One of the values of Kalwaria is developed craftmanship, famous in Poland and abroad, with a tradition dated in XVII-th century. There is developed furniture, fur and shoe industry in Kalwaria, with a good reputation of their products. The most famous in the city is cult of religion, connected closely with The Sanctuary in Kalwaria. Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, after Czestochowa, is the second biggest center of pilgrims in Poland, located on a papal tract from Wadowice to Cracow. Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and neighbouring Lanckorona belong to the main attractions of the region. They are also valuable for people interested in taking some rest or vacations, because of their interesting routes, situated near the city, accommodation basis, sport and recreation centers.

History of the city is closely connected with the history of the Church and goes back into XVII-th century. In 1602 year Mikolaj Zebrzydowski – Cracovian Voivode, founded on “Zar” Hill building of a Monastery and a complex of Chapels of The Way of The Cross, based on Jerusalem Calvary. The second part of the name of the city begins from the name of the founder, however “Kalwaria” (Calvary) means a complex of churches or chapels, symbolizing stations of Passion, creating usually on hills.
Natural ground conditions were used for building a complex of chapels and churches, creating Calvary, in which it was possible to get an indulgence without necessity to go to Jerusalem. Zebrzydowski charged Bernardines with a task of taking care about the new sanctuary. They are taking care about saint places in Jerusalem too. After Mikolaj Zebrzydowski’s death, in 1620 year, responsible for extension of Calvary were: son Jan, grandson Michal and their successor family “Czartoryscy”. They built most of chapels and shaped actual look of The Basilica and Monastery of Angelic God’s Mother.

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is an architectural-landscape-pilgrims monumental complex. Calvary was written in the World List of Heritage as the one of thousands in Europe. The all complex is: Basilica of God’s Mother, Bernardines’ Monastery and the complex of 42 Calvarian chapels and small churches, located between “Zar” and “Lanckorona” Hills, called “Calvary routes”. In the Basilica of Angelic God’s Mother is the famous picture of Calvarian God’s Mother. This is the one of the most famous pictures of Maria in this kind in Poland. Calvary is visited by over a million of pilgrims and tourists from Poland and abroad. There are organized special religion events in Calvary every year. The biggest intensification of visitors in Calvary is during Passion Week – Mystery of Passion and ceremonies of Assumption of God’s Mother, dated on 15th August. These events are supported by many regional Polish costumes and amateur music teams. Mysteries of Passion and Maria in Calvary belong to the biggest religion events in Poland and make The Sanctuary famous. Kalwaria Zebrzydowska was a place willingly visited by The Papa Jan Pawel II, who gave The Sanctuary a gold papal rose.

Lanckorona is the village, located in “Beskid Makowski”, in the South of Cracow, with the original wood buildings from the second half of XIX-th century. The main tourist attraction, worth of seeing, are ruins of medieval castle. Documented beginnings of Lanckorona are dated in the second half of XII-th century, when in the foot of older medieval watchtower a small village was settled. On the hill of Lanckorona Mountain The King Casimir III The Great built a fortified castle, which with regards to its character and strategic location, played the main role in its history. In the turn of XVI-th and XVII-th centuries it was wielded by Zebrzydowscy and next by Czartoryscy, Maszkowscy and Wielkopolscy. During the “Barska” Confederacy it was one of the most strong points of defense by Confederates. After I partition of Poland, the castle was deserted and unkempt and run into ruin. Only fragment of baileys is living up to date, because in XIX-th century local people were using the castle for their own necessities.

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is counted into papal track of Malopolska, lies in a track of papal train, going from Cracow to Wadowice and visiting places mostly liked by Jan Pawel II.

Additional worth of seeing places in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska are: