St Mary's Basilica in Kraków

Every hour a trumpeter plays the hejnał, a short bugle call, from the taller tower of the basilica – and breaks it off mid-phrase. A few dozen metres below, in the chancel, stands the greatest work of Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz in Polish): a late Gothic altarpiece around 13 metres high, carved between 1477 and 1489. St Mary's Basilica on the Main Market Square was the parish church of Kraków's burghers and is one of the city's best-known symbols.

History

According to the medieval chronicler Jan Długosz, the first stone church on this site was founded by Bishop Iwo Odrowąż in 1221–1222; it was destroyed during the Tatar raids. An early Gothic hall church followed in 1290–1300, and in 1355–1365 the present chancel was built, funded by the wealthy merchant Mikołaj Wierzynek. Towards the end of the 14th century master builder Mikołaj Werner lowered the side aisles and added large windows, turning the hall church into a basilica. In 1478 the carpenter Matias Heringkan gave the north tower its Gothic spire, topped in 1666 with a gilded crown 2.4 m across. Much of today's interior comes from the neo-Gothic redecoration of 1887–1891, led by Tadeusz Stryjeński.

What to see

• The Veit Stoss Altarpiece – in the central shrine, life-size figures show the Dormition and Assumption of the Virgin, while the wings tell scenes from the lives of Mary and Christ. From Monday to Saturday the altarpiece is opened at 11:50.
• Veit Stoss's stone crucifix in the altar at the end of the south aisle, commissioned by the royal mint master Henryk Slacker.
• Jan Matejko's wall paintings – the painter designed and carried out the new decoration with help from the young Stanisław Wyspiański and Józef Mehoffer, who also made the stained glass in the chancel and above the organ loft.
• The kuna by the entrance from St Mary's Square – an iron ring in which penitent sinners were once locked, fixed at a height where they could neither stand up straight nor kneel.

Towers and the bugle call

The taller tower, called the Hejnalica, is over 80 metres high and served as the city watchtower; the lower one, 69 metres, is the bell tower. The hejnał is played every hour from a height of 54 metres, towards each of the four points of the compass. It stops abruptly – according to legend, in memory of a trumpeter struck by an arrow during a Tatar attack. At noon it is also broadcast nationwide by Polish Radio. Stand in the Market Square and compare the two towers: their unequal height is a hallmark of Kraków's skyline.

Tripto tip

According to the basilica's website (as of October 2026), tourist visits are possible Monday to Saturday 11:30–18:00, and on Sundays and holidays 14:00–18:00. Admission is PLN 20, reduced PLN 10 (pupils aged 7–18, students up to 26, seniors 65+); tickets are sold at the visitor point at Plac Mariacki 7, which closes 15 minutes before visiting ends. Tourists use the south entrance – the main door from the Market Square is reserved for people coming to pray. Arrive a few minutes before 11:50 to watch the altarpiece being opened, and allow 45–60 minutes for your visit. Climbing the Hejnalica tower has separate rules and tickets – check the basilica's website.