Churches & monasteries

St Kinga Wayside Shrine in Stary Sącz

St Kinga’s Wayside Shrine in Stary Sącz is a small late-Baroque shrine on Bandurskiego Street, beside a spring and the St Kinga Trail. The masonry structure was built in 1779 on the site of an earlier wooden shrine. Its importance comes from the combination of devotion to the saint, local tradition and the nearby Poor Clare convent.

The shrine and spring

A figure of St Kinga stands inside, while a spring flows beside the building. According to local tradition, the saint indicated the site of the spring, which has attracted residents and pilgrims for centuries. Stories about the water’s miraculous powers belong to the religious tradition of the place and should not be presented as medically proven facts.

A stop on the St Kinga Trail

The shrine is a masonry example of small sacred architecture and is listed as a protected monument. Notice its simple form and the figure of the patron saint, then follow the St Kinga Trail towards the convent walls. It works best as a short stop during a visit to Stary Sącz’s historic centre.

Practical information

The shrine stands on Bandurskiego Street and can be viewed from outside throughout the day. The spring and the route towards the Poor Clare convent are nearby. Check current sanitary advice before collecting or drinking the water. Remain quiet and combine the stop with the market square, the convent and a walk along the Poprad River.