Sanctuary of Our Lady of Licheń

The golden dome of Licheń is visible from far across the flat plain near Konin, and the basilica tower rises to 141.5 m. The Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń is now the largest church in Poland, yet the sanctuary began with a small picture hung on a pine tree in the forest. The site, run by the Marian Fathers, covers almost 100 hectares and needs at least half a day.

History: from a forest picture to a basilica

The cult grew out of apparitions reported in 1813 and 1850–1852. According to tradition, Tomasz Kłossowski, wounded at the Battle of Leipzig, saw the Virgin Mary and years later found a similar image on a roadside tree during a pilgrimage to Jasna Góra. In 1844 he placed it on a pine in the Grąblin forest, where the shepherd Mikołaj Sikatka reported apparitions in 1850. After a cholera epidemic in 1852 the picture was moved to the church in Licheń, and in 1967 Primate Stefan Wyszyński crowned it with a papal crown.

The basilica, designed by Barbara Bielecka, was built in 1994–2004 on the initiative of Father Eugeniusz Makulski, funded entirely by donations. John Paul II blessed the construction in 1999, the church was consecrated in 2004, and in 2006 the miraculous image was moved here from St Dorothy's Church.

What to see

• Symbolism – 33 steps lead to the entrance (the years of Christ's life), and the church has 365 windows and 52 doorways, the number of days and weeks in a year. Golden glass and window frames shaped like ears of grain evoke a field of wheat.
• Dome and tower – the dome is 25 m wide and 45 m high. The tower has two viewing terraces at 98 m and 114 m, with views of up to 35 km in good weather.
• Organ – five instruments with 157 stops, built in 2002–2007, form the largest organ ensemble in Poland.
• Mary Mother of God bell – the largest bell in Poland, blessed in 2000.
• Golgotha – an artificial hill built since 1976 from stones brought by pilgrims from all over Poland.
• St Dorothy's Church – a neo-Gothic church from 1858 on the hill, where the image hung for almost 150 years; a spring lies nearby.

Interesting facts

The Chapel of the Cross holds a crucifix pierced by bullets. During the Second World War St Dorothy's Church was used by the Hitler Youth, and one of their female instructors shot at the crucifix. Local parishioners hid the image of the Virgin. Since 2010 the Father Józef Jarzębowski Museum above the presbytery has displayed Polish heritage objects collected abroad, including from Fawley Court in England, across 1,000 m².

Tripto tip

Start with the basilica and the tower, then walk through Golgotha to St Dorothy's Church. Allow 3–4 hours for the site, and expect crowds of pilgrims on Sundays and major feast days. Licheń lies in the Ślesin district, a short drive from Konin. Check Mass times and access to the tower and museum before you go on lichen.pl and muzeum.lichen.pl.