Poznań Fara

The Poznań Fara (parish church, pronounced FAH-rah), formally the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Mary Magdalene and St. Stanislaus, is one of the finest Baroque churches in Poland. It stands on Gołębia Street, a two-minute walk from Poznań's Old Market Square, its pink-and-white facade closing the view down Świętosławska Street. Even a 15-minute visit is worthwhile: the vast, Roman-style interior and its historic Ladegast organ are among the top things to do in Poznań.

Where it is

Poznań lies in western Poland, about 2.5–3 hours from Berlin and roughly 2.5 hours from Warsaw by train. The Fara is in the heart of the Old Town, next to the former Jesuit College, now Poznań's city hall.

From Jesuit church to parish church

The Jesuits arrived in Poznań in 1570. Work on the present church began in 1651, with the design traditionally credited to Jesuit architect Bartłomiej Nataniel Wąsowski. The Swedish invasion of the 1650s halted construction, which later continued under Giovanni Catenazzi and others. The church was consecrated in 1705 while still unfinished; Pompeo Ferrari completed the main portal and high altar in 1727–1732. After the Jesuit order was dissolved and the nearby collegiate church collapsed in 1780, it became the city's parish and collegiate church. During World War II the German occupiers stripped the interior and used it as a warehouse, but the building survived. In 2010 Pope Benedict XVI made it a minor basilica.

What to see

• The nave: the church is 55 m long and 27 m high, with columns, gilding and stucco in full Roman Baroque style.
• The high altar by Pompeo Ferrari, about 17 m tall.
• The Friedrich Ladegast organ of 1876, one of the most precious historic organs in Poland; hear it at the Saturday concert.
• Side chapels with Baroque altars and paintings.

Guided tours of hidden corners

Every Saturday after the 12:15 pm organ concert, guides lead three routes from about 12:45 pm: the church interior (30–40 min), the sacristy and Baroque chapter house (about 30 min), and the crypts. Tours are in Polish; ask locally about other languages.

Practical information

As of October 2026:

• Hours: daily 6:00 am–7:30 pm; no sightseeing during Mass.
• Admission: the church is free. Guided routes are a token donation: 2 PLN for one route, 3.50 PLN for two, 5 PLN for three; a tour with the organist costs 5 PLN.
• Phone: +48 61 853 03 97.

Allow 20–30 minutes for the interior, or 1.5–2 hours with the concert and tours. It is an active parish church, so keep quiet and dress respectfully. Is it worth visiting? Absolutely; it is free, central and spectacular.

Getting there and nearby

Walk 2–3 minutes from the Old Market Square along Świętosławska Street; drivers should park outside the Old Town. Combine the Fara with the Old Market Square and its Town Hall with the famous mechanical goats, the Royal Castle and Ostrów Tumski with Poznań Cathedral.