Golgotha in Licheń

The Golgotha in Licheń Stary (pronounced roughly "LEE-hen STAH-ri") is an artificial hill of fieldstones and concrete inside the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Licheń, one of Poland's most visited Catholic pilgrimage sites. A winding path leads through a maze of grottoes, chapels, life-size figures and reliefs to a summit crowned by a cross. For pilgrims it is a route of penance; for travelers it is one of the most unusual pieces of religious folk art in Central Europe, with a view of the vast basilica.

Where it is and how to get there

Licheń Stary is a village in the Greater Poland region (Wielkopolska), a few miles north of the town of Konin. Konin sits on the A2 motorway and the main Berlin–Poznań–Warsaw railway: it is roughly 1.5 hours by car from Poznań and around 2.5 hours from Warsaw. From Konin, local PKS Konin buses run to the sanctuary, but a car gives you more flexibility. The sanctuary has several parking lots, including lot E (the "papal" lot) on ul. Toruńska.

The story behind the hill

The idea for the Golgotha dates from 1976, under the sanctuary's longtime custodian, Fr. Eugeniusz Makulski of the Marian Fathers. It was inspired by an event from the Nazi occupation: in 1944 Berta Bauer, a Hitler Youth instructor staying in Licheń, fired shots at a crucifix. That bullet-marked cross is now kept in the Chapel of the Holy Cross, consecrated in 1970. The hill was conceived as an act of atonement for this desecration — a place of penance and expiation for sin.

Built gradually from stones and concrete, the Golgotha is decorated inside with colorful mosaics of broken glass and ceramics and with painted sculptures. Some visitors find it moving, others find it kitsch, but few forget it.

What to see

• The entrance stone, inscribed in Polish with a line saying that it was not the nails but "my sin" that fastened Christ to the cross.
• The maze of grottoes and chapels, with Passion scenes, a Resurrection tableau, Roman soldiers and reliefs. Some passages are narrow and dim.
• The summit, with the cross and statues of the Virgin Mary and St. John, overlooking the basilica, the towers of St. Dorothy's Church and the wooded sanctuary grounds.
• Neighboring chapels: the Chapel of the Souls in Purgatory and the Ostra Brama Chapel stand just east of the hill.

Allow 30–60 minutes for the climb and the grottoes. It gets crowded on big pilgrimage days; weekdays outside summer are quietest.

Accessibility and tips

The route involves many steps, uneven stone stairs and tight passages, so it is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. Wear sturdy shoes, as the stones can be slippery after rain. Children usually enjoy the grottoes and figures but need supervision on steep sections. Remember that this is a place of prayer, and many people walk it in silence.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• Address: Sanctuary of Our Lady of Licheń, ul. Klasztorna 4, 62-563 Licheń Stary. Phone +48 63 270 81 63; pilgrim office +48 63 270 81 42; email lichen@lichen.pl.
• Hours and fees: the Golgotha is an open-air part of the sanctuary grounds, and the official website does not list separate opening hours or admission charges. In winter or during major celebrations, check with the pilgrim office. Payments in Poland are in złoty (PLN).
• Guided tours of the sanctuary (1–3 hours) can be booked in advance; ask whether an English-speaking guide is available.

Is it worth visiting?

If you are in the Poznań–Konin area or interested in Polish Catholic culture, yes. Pair the Golgotha with the Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń (built 1994–2004), one of the largest churches in the world with Poland's largest bell, the older St. Dorothy's Church, the holy spring and the free sanctuary museum (open April to October).