Things to do in Babice
Babice is a village in western Lesser Poland, near the Vistula between Chrzanów and Oświęcim. Above it rises a hill with the ruins of Lipowiec Castle, once a stronghold of the bishops of Kraków, and at its foot lies the Wygiełzów open-air museum with cottages, the Droginia manor and a wooden church from Ryczów. In the centre of Babice stands All Saints' Church with Rococo furnishings, and in nearby Mętków a larch-wood church moved from Niegowić, where Karol Wojtyła served as a curate. The castle is closed for renovation until 2028, but the open-air museum is open daily. Babice makes a good family day trip from Kraków or an add-on to a stay in Zator.
Map of attractions in Babice
All 4 places on one map: see what is close together and plan your route.
All attractions (4)
Hidden gemCastles
Lipowiec Castle
Babice
For more than two centuries the bishops of Kraków imprisoned clergy here: heretics, rebellious friars and priests accused of crimes. Lipowiec Castle stands on a wooded limestone hill (362 m above sea level) between Babice and Wygiełzów, an…
Churches & monasteries
Wooden Church in Mętków
Babice
This dark larch-wood church once stood more than 60 kilometres away, in Niegowić near Bochnia. It was here, in 1948–1949, that a newly ordained curate, Father Karol Wojtyła – the future Pope John Paul II – served his first post. In 1973 th…
20–30 min
Churches & monasteries
All Saints' Church in Babice
Babice
In the centre of Babice, less than a kilometre from Lipowiec Castle, stands a pale church with a tall front tower. Its parish was founded as early as 1337, and the present building hides layers from several periods: a medieval chancel, a B…
15–20 min
Museums
Open-Air Museum in Wygiełzów
Babice
At the foot of the hill with the ruins of Lipowiec Castle stands a village that nobody built in one place. Cottages, granaries, a smithy, a mill and a wooden church were brought here from villages and small towns of western Lesser Poland t…
90–120 min