This inspiring pilgrimage combines a meaningful spiritual journey with the discovery of Poland’s rich cultural heritage. Over the course of nine days, the itinerary takes travellers through some of the country’s most remarkable cities, including Warsaw, Gdańsk, Poznań, and Krakow, while visiting important Catholic sanctuaries and places of prayer. Renowned for its deep Marian devotion, Poland offers pilgrims the opportunity to experience moments of reflection and faith at the magnificent Basilica of Licheń, the revered Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, and the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Krakow. Alongside its spiritual highlights, the journey reveals Poland’s fascinating history and traditions, with visits to iconic landmarks such as the impressive Malbork Castle and the birthplace of the renowned astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.
Itinerary: Warsaw – Toruń – Gdańsk – Malbork – Gniezno – Poznań – Licheń – Częstochowa – Auschwitz-Birkenau – Krakow – Wieliczka – Wadowice – Łagiewniki
Duration: 9 days
Morning & Afternoon: Arrival and transfer from Warsaw to Gdańsk. Stop in Toruń to visit the old town, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with buildings representing different periods of time, the most interesting being the gothic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, the gothic church of the Assumption of Mary, remnants of the city wall and the museum consecrated to Nicolaus Copernicus in his family home. Holy Mass.
Evening: Arrival in Gdańsk. Dinner and overnight in Gdańsk.
Morning: Visit to the city of Gdańsk which was the biggest and the richest port at the Baltic Sea for centuries. It was here that the first shots of the Second World War were heard. Gdańsk was also the cradle of “Solidarność” – a social movement of grand scale led by Lech Wałęsa, which fought against the communist dictatorship in Eastern Europe. In the programme: the Old Town rebuilt after the devastations of the Second World War with buildings dating from the 11th century onwards, Main City Hall, Artus Court, the old port docks, the gothic St. Mary’s Church – the biggest brick building in Europe. Holy Mass in one of the churches in Gdańsk.
Afternoon: Transfer to the Oliwa Cathedral for an organ concert. Afterward, transfer to Sopot, a popular seaside resort which can be discovered at leisure. Highly recommended is a stroll on the biggest pier on the Baltic Sea.
Evening: Dinner. Overnight in Gdańsk.
Morning: Visit to the Westerplatte memorial. On 1 September 1939, shellfire from the battleship "SMS Shleswig-Holstein" directed at Polish soldiers stationed at the Westerplatte base started the Second World War.
Afternoon: Transfer to Malbork and a visit to the Castle of the Teutonic Order, the biggest gothic castle in Europe. The journey then continues to Gniezno – the first historical capital of Poland. Visit to the gothic cathedral, first place of coronations of the Polish kings. Holy Mass in the Gniezno Cathedral. Transfer and arrival in Poznań.
Evening: Dinner. Check-in at the accommodation. Overnight in Poznań.
Morning: Visit to Poznań, one of Poland’s biggest and oldest cities, a cradle to the Christianity in the country. Archaeological works have revealed the foundations of the first Christian church in Poland built by the prince Mieszko I, the first Christian ruler of the country. A visit to the cathedral, which is located on a scenic island on the Warta River and houses the tombs of the first Polish rulers. A stroll through the charming Old Town: Poznań Town Hall, considered one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Poland, a beautiful example of baroque style in the form of the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Poznań Fara, and more.
Afternoon: Transfer to Warsaw with a stop in Licheń Stary – second most important pilgrimage site in Poland, after Częstochowa. The basilica who houses the icon "Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen of Poland", was completed in 2004 and ranks 8th among the largest churches in the world. Holy Mass (possible also in Poznań).
Evening: Arrival in Warsaw. Dinner and check-in at the accommodation. Overnight in Warsaw.
Morning: Holy Mass in the St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, in front of which Blessed Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko is buried. Jerzy Popiełuszko was a priest who engaged in the anti-communist dictatorship resistance and was brutally assassinated by the Security Service, a secret police force, in 1984. Nowadays, his grave is the most important pilgrimage destination in Warsaw. Visit to the Old Town, rebuilt after the devastation caused during the war: Royal Castle, Sigismund’s Column, St John’s Archcathedral, Old Town Square Market and Barbicane. Stroll down Warsaw’s most iconic street – Krakowskie Przedmieście.
Afternoon: Transfer to the Warsaw Rising Museum dedicated to the fight the Varsovians have put up in the name of freedom from the Nazi occupation and communism during the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944.
Evening: Dinner. Overnight in Warsaw.
Morning: Transfer to Częstochowa. The Pauline Monastery of Jasna Góra in Częstochowa, where the Black Madonna icon is located, is considered one of the most crucial Marian sanctuaries in the world and Poland’s national shrine. Visit to the monastery, prayer in front of the Black Madonna and Holy Mass in one of the chapels.
Afternoon: Transfer to Oświęcim and a visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. Firstly, the extermination camp Auschwitz I with the starvation cell where Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe lost his life. Then, a visit to the Auschwitz II-Birkenau, the place of death of over one million people of which the majority was Jewish, and among them, Edith Stein, a Christian Jew and a patron saint of Europe (Teresa Benedicta of the Cross). Transfer to Krakow.
Evening: Arrival in Krakow. Dinner and check-in at the accommodation. Overnight in Krakow.
Morning: Guided tour of the historic capital of Poland. In the programme: the Wawel Royal Castle and cathedral, the coronation and burial place of Polish kings, which houses in its central section the tomb of Saint Stanislaus, bishop and martyr, the patron saint of Poland. The Old Town and the Main Market Square (Rynek) – the biggest main square in Europe, the St. Mary’s Church where you can admire Veit Stoss’ altarpiece, a wooden chef-d’œuvre, medieval Jagiellonian Univeristy and charming streets of the Old Town. Holy Mass in one of the churches in Krakow (possible also in one of the chapels in the Wieliczka salt mine).
Afternoon: Transfer to Wieliczka. Visit to the salt mine – a unique example of the mining industry and medieval art (UNESCO). Stroll through the tunnels, caves and chapels carved in salt, such as the Chapel of Saint Kinga which stands out for its décor and size.
Evening: Dinner accompanied by traditional klezmer music in one of the restaurants in Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter of Krakow. Overnight in Krakow.
Morning: Transfer to Wadowice – the hometown of Pope John Paul II. A moment of reflection in the church where the future pope was baptised. Visit to the museum dedicated to his life, which is located in Pope’s family home. Transfer to the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Krakow-Łagiewniki. Known throughout the world, the Basilica of Łagiewniki is a place of worship dedicated to Divine Mercy. Holy Mass (possible also in Wadowice or Nowa Huta).
Afternoon: Transfer to The Ark of the Lord Church, located in the Nowa Huta, a socialist district. The church symbolizes the fight and the prolonged efforts of the district’s residents who opposed the ideology and atheist directives enforced by the communist dictatorship.
Evening: Dinner. Overnight in Krakow.
Transfer to the Krakow Airport. Departure.
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