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Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - Hamelin's Polish Twinned Town since 2001

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska with approximately 18.000 inhabitants including 13 surrounding villages is located in the picturesque countryside at the edge of the Beskiden range. The city of Zakopane lays 80 kilometres to the southeast of Kalwaria and being situated on the foothills of the Tatra mountains, is a tourist attraction with international flair.


Krakow is situated 35 kilometres northeast of Kalwaria and is a major cultural, economic and religious centre point in modern day Poland.
40 kilometres to the northwest of Kalwaria is the infamous town of Auschwitz, a notorious reminder of the terrible crimes committed on the Polish people during World War II.


Since the 17th century, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska has been religiously characterized by a Franciscan Monastery with its Stations of the Cross laid out over a 7 kilometre long path by the Zebrzydowskis, a princedom family of that era.


Over the years, numerous so-called Kalwarian paths have emerged with a total of 41 large and small chapels, which together with the Monastery of the Bernadine Fathers represents the main architectural sightseeing features in the vicinity.


The Monastery itself with its Sanctuary of the Virgin Mary and cloisters is a building of the late baroque period with influences of rococo.

Kalwaria is also Poland's second largest town for pilgrimages and during the famous Passion ceremonies or on the commemoration day of the Assumption of Virgin Mary, tens of thousands of pilgrims visit the town. The religious attraction of the town for the Polish people has increased since Pope John Paul II was borne and grew up just 14 kilometres away in the town of Wadowice and as Cardinal of Krakow was constantly in touch with the monastery in Kalwaria. He also visited the monastery several times during his papal journeys to Poland.

In May 2000, the monastery was listed in UNESCO's world cultural heritage.

Since the 18th centenary, numerous small and medium sized craftsmen's workshops have left their mark on Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and these were dominated by cabinet-makers and shoemakers. Today, 1.220 of the 2.780 business enterprises registered in Kalwaria are involved in these two trades. The cabinet-makers exhibit their products at the spring and summer furniture trade fair which is staged every year.

Homepage of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: www.kalwaria-zebrzydowska.pl