Church, mosque or temple · Poland · Lesser Poland

St Mary's Basilica Kraków

The twin-towered Gothic church on the Main Square, famous for its carved wooden altarpiece and blue star-spangled ceiling.

UNESCO World Heritage about 45 min

For storytellers

Why St Mary's Basilica Kraków matters

From the outside you see one tower taller than the other, and from the inside you find a ceiling painted deep blue with golden stars. The main attraction is the huge carved wooden altarpiece, made by a master sculptor in the late Middle Ages, with expressive figures that seem to step out of the frame. The tower is also home to the hourly trumpet call.

Talking points

  • The two towers are different heights, and there is a local story about why.
  • The altarpiece is a masterpiece of medieval woodcarving.

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