Loreto House in Gołąb

In the village of Gołąb on the Vistula, between Puławy and Dęblin, stands an exact copy of one of Europe's most famous shrines: the Holy House of Loreto, where according to tradition the Holy Family lived. Built in 1634–1638, the Loreto House in Gołąb is one of the finest Mannerist monuments in Poland. Its exterior is decorated with ceramic figures of prophets in which scholars see a distant echo of Michelangelo's "Moses".

History: a chancellor's vow

The house was built in 1634–1638 on the initiative of the parish priest Szymon Grzybowski, who had made a pilgrimage to Loreto and most likely brought back exact measurements of the Santa Casa. The main benefactor was Chancellor Jerzy Ossoliński, who is said to have vowed to build it in honour of the Virgin. He brought from Italy a statue of the Virgin Mary, dressed in two gowns donated by Izabella Ossolińska. Bishop Tomasz Oborski consecrated it on 12 September 1638.

Loreto houses were built during the Counter-Reformation as an expression of devotion to Our Lady of Loreto. There were about twenty in the Polish lands, and the one in Gołąb is among the most elaborate. It belongs to a group of buildings around Kazimierz Dolny associated with the royal architect Piotr Likkiel.

What to see

• Double walls: an ornate casing of stone and brick conceals a plain inner structure, a copy of the house of Nazareth.
• Prophets in niches: of the ten ceramic figures, six survive, including Noah, Aaron, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Moses.
• Portals with reliefs of the four Evangelists and Saints Joseph, John the Baptist, Peter and Paul.
• A small barred window in the west wall, symbolising the window through which the angel brought Mary the Annunciation.
• 17th-century wall paintings inside, showing scenes from the life of Mary, uncovered in 1985–1986.

Did you know?

A wooden grille divides the interior; behind it is the sanctuary with a fireplace where, according to tradition, Mary prayed. Next to the house stands the Mannerist parish church of 1628–1636. In 1656 Stefan Czarniecki's army fought a battle with the Swedes near Gołąb.

Tripto tip

The house stands by the southern wall of the churchyard of the parish of St Florian and St Catherine. You can see the exterior at any time; to get inside, ask at the parish office or come around service times. Allow 30–45 minutes. Gołąb is about 12 km north of Puławy, so it combines easily with Puławy and Kazimierz Dolny in a day trip.