Święty Krzyż Abbey, Benedictine monastery in Nowa Słupia, Poland
Święty Krzyż is a Benedictine monastery in Nowa Słupia in Poland, set on a wooded hill above the town. The complex includes a late Baroque church with twin towers, monastery buildings with 15th-century cloisters, and a tall tower rebuilt in 2014.
Founded in 1006, the site became the main religious pilgrimage destination in the Kingdom of Poland during the Jagiellon dynasty. The complex served as a prison from 1950 to 1955 before the Benedictines returned.
Pilgrims still come here throughout the year to visit the relic chapel, following a tradition that has shaped this mountain retreat for centuries. Visitors can observe monks following their daily routines, maintaining the rhythm of prayer and work that defines monastic life.
The path to the summit leads through forest and can be reached on foot or by car, with parking available nearby. The missionary museum inside displays photographs and a model from the prison period along with exhibits about Benedictine work.
The 17th-century gate in the surrounding wall leads to a bell tower from 1777, whose five bells ring several times daily. The sound carries across the valley and marks the rhythm of the monastic day.
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