Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ludźmierz, Minor basilica in Ludźmierz, Poland.
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ludźmierz is a neo-Gothic church that features a Baroque altar housing a medieval statue of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus from around 1400. The sculpture remains the focal point of the interior and draws thousands of visitors annually.
The sanctuary originated in 1234 when Teodor Gryfita received permission from the bishop of Kraków to build the first wooden church. The site later developed into a major pilgrimage destination, especially after the arrival of the precious medieval statue.
The sanctuary holds deep significance for the Góral people of the Tatra Mountains, who know Our Lady of Ludźmierz by the local name Gaździna Podhala. This connection shapes how pilgrims from the region relate to the place today.
The site sees large crowds during major religious celebrations on August 14 and 15, when pilgrims gather for the feast of the Assumption of Mary. Plan your visit carefully if you prefer quieter moments in the sanctuary away from peak crowds.
During the 1963 coronation ceremony, Bishop Karol Wojtyła, who later became Pope John Paul II, caught the scepter that fell from the statue of Our Lady. This unexpected moment during a solemn ceremony became a memorable event in the sanctuary's history.
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