The spiritual development of the Polish people began in 1382 with the arrival of the Pauline Order from Hungary to Częstchow. At the beginning of the XIV century, it was in this city that the capital of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the residence of the king was located. A monastery was erected in the western part of the city, on a 293 m high hill called "Yasna Gura" (Light Hill).
Chapel of Our Lady
In the oldest part of the complex, there is the Chapel of the Mother of God (the Chapel of the Icon Not Made by Hands), which houses the icon of the revered Black Madonna. Access to the icon is solemnly opened daily at 6 am and closed at 13:30. On Saturday and Sunday, the kapitsa can be visited from 13:00 to 21:20.
Particular attention should be paid to the walls displaying the vows and sacrifices made by pilgrims in honor of the Mother of God. The north wall of the chapel depicts key events in the history of the monastery. Believers are still turning here for healing. The miracles that took place here are evidenced by the icon of the Black Madonna in the monastery chapel of Our Lady.
Other attractions
There is a basilica adjacent to the chapel. Its construction dates back to the 17th century. The interior is made in the lush baroque style. There is a gallery with a number of unique paintings by the famous local artist and cartoonist Duda-Grach (1941-2004). His work testifies to the monastery's ability to preserve its historical heritage while maintaining its relevance.
The monastery is home to the highest bell tower in Poland (106 m). From its height, a view of the entire monastery complex opens. The construction of the tower in its current form dates back to 1906. A museum was opened here on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the monastery. Its exposition contains interesting artifacts, including:
• the constituent documents of the building on Jasna Góra, dating back to 1382;
• a cross made of steel from the World Trade Center destroyed in New York on September 11, 2001;
• rosary made of bread crumbs by prisoners of concentration camps, presented to the monastery by the first President of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Walesa;
• an impressive collection of Turkish trophy weapons, compiled after the Battle of Vienna in 1683.
How to get there?
The monastery of the Pauline Order is located in the town of Częstchow, st. Kordetskogo, 2. Opening hours: daily from 8 to 17 from March to October, from November to February the doors are closed for visitors an hour earlier. The Information Center organizes one-hour guided tours in Polish and English.
