Święty Krzyż Monastery

Święty Krzyż Monastery (say "SHVYEN-ti kshish," meaning "Holy Cross") crowns Łysa Góra, a 594 m summit in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains of central Poland. This former Benedictine abbey has kept relics believed to be fragments of the True Cross since the Middle Ages – they gave their name to the whole mountain range and region. Today it is a working shrine of the Oblate Fathers, a Polish Monument of History and a great half-day trip combining history, pilgrimage and a walk through Świętokrzyski National Park.

Where it is and how to get there

The monastery sits in the town of Nowa Słupia, roughly 30–35 km east of Kielce, the regional capital. From Warsaw it is about a 2.5–3 hour drive; from Kraków allow a similar time. Public transport is limited, so a car is the practical choice. There are two classic ways up:

• From Huta Szklana: park at the national park gate and walk about 2 km on a paved road to the top (cars are banned except for authorized vehicles such as those with a disabled parking card). Electric golf-cart shuttles are an alternative to walking.
• From Nowa Słupia: follow the blue trail known as the "Royal Road" uphill through the beech and fir forest; the Stations of the Cross begin at the parish church in town.

A short history

Long before the monks arrived, the summit was a pagan Slavic cult site – a 1.5 km stone rampart, probably built in the 9th–10th centuries, still rings the top. The first Romanesque church was most likely founded by Duke Bolesław the Wrymouth (ruled 1102–1138). The True Cross relics, said by tradition to be a gift from the Hungarian prince Saint Emeric, made the abbey medieval Poland's leading shrine: King Władysław Jagiełło came here seven times, including on his way to the Battle of Grunwald in 1410.

After a fire in 1777, the present late Baroque–Neoclassical church was built (1781–1789). Then came hard times: the monastery was dissolved in 1819, the Russian authorities turned it into a high-security prison in 1884 (it remained a prison until 1939), retreating Austrian troops blew up the tower in 1914, and from 1941 to 1944 the Germans held Soviet prisoners of war here; thousands died, and their mass grave lies in a clearing below the summit. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate arrived in 1936. The tower was rebuilt in 2014 and now stands 45 m tall.

In 2017 the monastery and the prehistoric stone ramparts were declared a Monument of History – the highest national heritage designation in Poland.

Things to see

• The Basilica of the Holy Trinity, with paintings by Franciszek Smuglewicz.
• The Oleśnicki Chapel (1614–1620), which has housed the relics of the True Cross since 1723.
• Gothic cloisters, the sacristy painted with scenes from the life of St. Benedict, and the historical and missionary museum.
• The Benedictine crypts and a crypt traditionally said to hold the remains of Prince Jeremi Wiśniowiecki, a 17th-century magnate and military commander.
• The gołoborze (say "go-wo-BO-zheh") – a striking field of quartzite boulders on the slope, seen from a viewing gallery.

Note: the natural history exhibition of the Świętokrzyski National Park museum on the summit has been closed since July 1, 2026.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026:

• The monastery is open daily 9:00–17:00, until 20:00 in summer. Monastery guides can be booked by phone at +48 784 718 580 (gatehouse, 9:00–17:00) or by email at infoswkrzyz@gmail.com.
• National park entry (required for tourist visits): 11 PLN, reduced 5.50 PLN. Gołoborze viewing gallery: 14 PLN, reduced 7.50 PLN. Walking up the paved road from Huta Szklana to the shrine itself is free.
• Sunday Masses: 8:00, 10:00, 12:00 and 15:00 (plus 17:00 from May to October).

Visiting in winter

The monastery keeps its regular 9:00–17:00 hours in winter, but the road and trails can be icy – microspikes and warm layers help, as the summit is windier than the valley. Days are short, so start early. Check with the gatehouse whether the shuttles are running.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you are exploring the Kielce region. Allow 1–1.5 hours for the monastery itself and half a day including the walk and the boulder field. Nearby, Nowa Słupia has a Museum of Ancient Metallurgy, and the region's highest peak, Łysica, rises above the village of Święta Katarzyna. The Pilgrim House on the summit offers rooms and a café in the "Old Pharmacy."