Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rock in Podzamcze

On the road from Ogrodzieniec to Pilica, in Podzamcze near the ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle, a bright chapel with a glazed front stands beneath a limestone crag. This is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rock, whose story begins with a villager's account of a vision on the rock in 1818. The present chapel dates from 2000, but there has been a place of prayer by the rock for more than two centuries.

History: a vision on the rock

On 14 October 1818 a resident of Podzamcze is said to have seen an image of the Virgin Mary on the limestone rock. Soon afterwards a painting of Mary from the castle chapel was hung on the rock. It was originally meant for the church, but villagers decided that Mary had chosen this very place and carried it to the rock in a solemn procession. Every day someone climbed a ladder to light a lamp by the image. Water from a spring beside the rock was considered healing, though the spring later dried up.

In the 1950s villagers built a small chapel of stones and a light metal frame beside the rock, where Sunday Mass was said in spring and summer. In 2000 it was replaced by a larger chapel designed by Marek Tondera and consecrated on 12 June 2000 by Bishop Adam Śmigielski. The painting of Our Lady was crowned in 2001, and in 2002 the chapel was raised to the rank of sanctuary.

What to see

• The chapel at the foot of the rock – modern and in harmony with its surroundings, with a statue of the Virgin on top of the rock.
• The miraculous painting in the high altar.
• The historic cross made secretly in the 1950s by workers of the "Wiek" cement plant, at the risk of harassment by the communist authorities.
• The square in front of the chapel, entered through a stone arch with a gate, with a bell tower and five rosary stations.

Tripto tips

• The indulgence feast is held on the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church (the Monday after Pentecost).
• The sanctuary belongs to the Transfiguration parish in Ogrodzieniec; check the parish website for current Mass times.
• A visit takes 20–30 minutes. Combine it with the ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle on the Eagles' Nests Trail, in the same village.