Franciscan Basilica (Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi)

The Franciscan Basilica in Kraków – formally the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, on All Saints' Square (plac Wszystkich Świętych) – is one of the oldest churches in the Old Town and a must for anyone who loves Art Nouveau. Its interior is painted and glazed by Stanisław Wyspiański (say "vis-PYAN-skee"), the leading artist of the "Young Poland" movement, whose stained-glass window God the Father – Let It Be is one of the most celebrated works of Polish art. Medieval history and turn-of-the-century design meet here in one building.

History

Duke Henry the Pious brought the Franciscan friars to Kraków around 1236–1237, and the order describes this as the only friary in Poland that has operated continuously ever since. The church was rebuilt and consecrated to St. Francis around 1269, funded mainly by Duke Bolesław the Chaste, who was buried here in 1279 alongside his sister, Blessed Salomea. Two sons of King Władysław the Elbow-High also rest in the church.

Fires repeatedly damaged the building (1462, 1476, 1655), but the worst was the Great Fire of Kraków in 1850. Reconstruction stretched to the end of the 19th century, and it was during this period that the young Wyspiański created his most important religious work here. The church was named a minor basilica on 23 February 1920. St. Maximilian Kolbe – the Franciscan friar who later gave his life for a fellow prisoner in Auschwitz – served at the friary from 1919 to 1922.

What to see inside

• Wyspiański's wall paintings in the chancel and transept – dense floral and plant ornament that turns a Gothic interior into an Art Nouveau garden. Look up at the vaults.
• Chancel stained glass – five windows designed by Wyspiański, showing the elements, St. Francis and Blessed Salomea.
• God the Father – Let It Be (1904) – the huge west window above the organ loft, showing the Creator in a swirl of color. It is at its most dramatic in the afternoon, when the sun shines through the glass.
• The Passion Chapel – 14 Stations of the Cross painted by Józef Mehoffer (1933–1946), plus a life-size replica of the Shroud of Turin blessed by Pope John Paul II.
• The Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows – a Baroque altar with a revered image known as the "Sorrowful Benefactress of Kraków," crowned in 1908.
• The cloisters – lined with a gallery of portraits of Kraków's bishops.
• Nave paintings by Tadeusz Popiel with scenes from the life of St. Francis.

The stained glass and paintings have undergone conservation in stages in recent years, so a window may occasionally be covered.

Visiting hours and tips (as of October 2026)

• Address: pl. Wszystkich Świętych 5, 31-004 Kraków (corner of Franciszkańska Street).
• Visiting hours: Monday–Saturday 10:00–16:00; Sundays and holidays 13:15–16:00. Sightseeing is not possible during services.
• Admission: the basilica's website lists no charge for visiting the church.
• Masses: weekdays include 16:30, 18:00 and 19:00 in the basilica; on Sundays, Masses include a Spanish-language Mass on the second Sunday of the month (except July–September) – full schedule on franciszkanska.pl.
• Contact: +48 12 422 53 76, bazylika@franciszkanska.pl.
• Etiquette: it is an active church – dress modestly, keep your voice down and avoid walking around during Mass.

Allow 30–45 minutes. Is it worth visiting? For Art Nouveau fans it is one of the top things to see in Kraków, and it is free.

Christmas: the living nativity

Every year the friars set up a living nativity scene beside the basilica, opposite the "Papal Window" of the Bishops' Palace – a tradition taken up by the Franciscan seminarians in 1992. It opens on Christmas Eve, just before Midnight Mass, with animals borrowed from Kraków Zoo and local breeders. Crowds gather over the holidays, so go early. Confirm the 2026/27 dates on the basilica's website, and expect fewer sightseeing slots during the busy festive liturgy.

How to get there

The basilica is on the southern edge of the Old Town, about 5 minutes on foot from the Main Market Square via Grodzka or Bracka Street and a few minutes from Wawel Castle. Trams stop on All Saints' Square right outside. The basilica's website advertises paid parking at the friary (10 PLN per hour, 100 PLN per 24 hours); the rest of the center is a paid parking zone. Kraków Airport is linked to the main station by train, from where it is roughly a 20-minute walk.

Nearby

• Bishops' Palace and the Papal Window – across Franciszkańska Street, where John Paul II used to greet young people.
• Dominican Basilica – a few minutes east on Stolarska Street.
• Kanonicza Street and the Royal Route – on your way to Wawel.
• Wyspiański Museum – a National Museum branch for anyone captivated by his glass.