Churches & monasteries

St Barbara Church in Kraków

St Barbara’s Church in Kraków stands beside St Mary’s Square, directly behind St Mary’s Basilica. Often called St Mary’s younger sister, this Gothic church began as a cemetery chapel and now combines a medieval structure with a rich Baroque interior.

A Gothic cemetery chapel

The earliest document concerning the chapel dates from 1338, and the building was enlarged in 1394–1402. The church has a single nave, a semicircular apse and a Gothic body remodelled in 1680–1687. By the entrance stands the arcaded Ogrojec Chapel, built in 1488–1518, with late-Gothic polychromy and a Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane group from the circle of artists associated with Veit Stoss.

Crucifix, Pietà and the Jesuits

The high altar holds a Gothic crucifix from around 1420 and Baroque sculptures by Dawid Heel. In the nave stands a stone Pietà from around 1410, attributed to the Master of the Beautiful Madonnas. The interior also contains polychromy by Piotr Molitor, paintings by Tomasz Dolabella and the image of Our Lady of Jurowice. The church has belonged to the Jesuits since 1583, apart from 1773–1874.

Practical information

This is one of the most interesting monuments immediately around Kraków’s Main Market Square. Combine it with St Mary’s Basilica, the Small Market Square and the Ogrojec Chapel. It is an active Jesuit church, so check service times and the current organ-concert calendar on the church website before visiting.