Churches & monasteries

St. Clement's Church in Wieliczka

Facing the Saltworks Castle in Wieliczka stands St. Clement's Church — the parish church whose history is as old as local mining itself. The first mention of the parochial temple comes from the bull of Gregory IX of 1229, and its patron is regarded as the first patron of miners.

From timber to earthquake

The original church was probably wooden. The Gothic masonry temple was raised by townspeople in 1333–1370; it survived until 1782, when it was badly damaged by an earthquake — the underground salt workings made themselves felt. In 1786 the medieval building was demolished to its foundations, and the present church was erected at the beginning of the 19th century on the old footings.

Sobieski's belfry

From the old ensemble survived the presbytery walls with buttresses, the 17th-century Morstin funerary chapel decorated with stuccoes by the Italian artist Balthasar Fontana from 1693, and the free-standing belfry endowed by Jan III Sobieski after his victory over the Turks.

Practicalities

The present church is a three-nave, four-bay structure 55 metres long; the interior is decorated with numerous altars and paintings, and a small signal bell hangs over the presbytery. The church is open daily 6:00–19:00 at Zamkowa street 7, only 300 m from the Salt Mine. See it before or after going underground — together with the brine graduation tower (500 m) and a stroll around the market square.