In 1681, Queen Marie Casimire Sobieska—born a French noblewoman, now wife of the warrior-king who would save Vienna from the Turks—knelt in thanksgiving before an image of the Virgin Mary. Her prayers had been answered, and she would honor that grace with a church in the forested hills of southeastern Poland. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Visitation that rose in Krasnobród stands today as testimony to royal gratitude and enduring faith.
In the Roztocze hills where beech forests give way to limestone outcrops, the baroque church rises above the town, its twin towers visible for miles across this landscape of surprising beauty. The shrine developed as part of the seventeenth-century flowering of Marian devotion in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, when nobility competed to honor the Virgin through magnificent foundations. Marie Casimire's church joined a constellation of sanctuaries that made Poland the "Kingdom of Mary."
The town preserves the atmosphere of a spa resort—mineral springs attracted visitors even before the shrine was built. Today, pilgrims combine spiritual devotion with the natural beauty of the Roztocze National Park, finding in this corner of Poland a place where heaven and earth seem closer than elsewhere.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Queen Marie Casimire Louise de la Grange d'Arquien was born in France in 1641, the daughter of a French nobleman. Her destiny brought her to Poland, where she married Jan Sobieski in 1665. When her husband became king in 1674, she became Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania—and when he led the relief of Vienna against the Ottoman siege in 1683, she became the consort of Christian Europe's savior.
The shrine's foundation in 1681 preceded that famous victory. Marie Casimire donated funds for a church dedicated to the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the feast commemorating Mary's journey to her cousin Elizabeth. The baroque church, completed in the early eighteenth century, housed a miraculous image of Mary credited with healing and protection.
The Dominicans originally served the shrine, bringing their tradition of preaching and contemplation to this remote corner of the Commonwealth. The pattern of retreat preaching and pastoral care they established continued for generations.
The twentieth century brought devastation to Krasnobród. World War II destroyed the local Jewish community in the Holocaust, and communist restrictions limited religious life. The shrine survived, its church a refuge for faith in difficult times. Since 1989, renewal has brought new generations of pilgrims to discover Marie Casimire's foundation.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Krasnobród
Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Kościół Nawiedzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny
The baroque church, with its characteristic twin towers and ornate façade, houses the miraculous image of Our Lady of Krasnobród. The interior features period artwork, including paintings and sculptural decoration typical of the Polish baroque at its most exuberant. The high altar enshrines the image that has drawn pilgrims for over three centuries.
Chapel of the Miraculous Image
The side chapel housing the venerated image creates intimate space for devotion. Votive offerings testify to centuries of answered prayers. Pilgrims come to touch the image and leave their intentions before Mary.
Spa Park and Springs
The mineral springs that made Krasnobród a health resort complement the spiritual healing pilgrims seek. Walks through the spa park offer meditation in nature, the Roztocze landscape a gift that refreshes body and soul.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of the Visitation — May 31
The patronal feast draws pilgrims from across the Zamość region. The celebration commemorates Mary's journey to Elizabeth—the mystery that gives the sanctuary its dedication.
Assumption of Mary — August 15
Poland's great summer pilgrimage feast brings the faithful to all the nation's Marian shrines. At Krasnobród, outdoor Masses accommodate larger crowds, and traditional devotions continue throughout the day.
Nativity of Mary — September 8
The feast of Mary's birth marks the autumn pilgrimage season, drawing those who combine shrine visits with the beauty of the Roztocze forests in their fall colors.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Uzdrowisko Krasnobród (spa resort) — Several hotel options combining accommodation with health treatments and access to the mineral springs. Website
Hotel & Restauracja Marko ⭐⭐⭐ — Comfortable hotel in Krasnobród with restaurant serving regional Roztocze cuisine. Reserve this hotel
Zamość Hotels — The historic Renaissance city of Zamość (40 km), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provides varied accommodation from historic guesthouses to modern hotels.
🚗 Getting There
By Car: From Zamość, take local roads east toward Krasnobród (approximately 40 km). The route passes through the scenic Roztocze landscape. Free parking available near the church.
By Bus: Regional buses connect Krasnobród to Zamość and Lublin. Service is limited, especially on weekends.
By Train: The nearest railway stations are in Zamość (40 km) and Lublin (100 km), with connections to Warsaw and Kraków. From either city, continue by bus or car.
📚 Further Reading
Ks. Ryszard Szmydki. Sanktuarium Nawiedzenia NMP w Krasnobrodzie — History of the royal foundation and its pilgrimage tradition (in Polish).
🔗 Useful Links
Parish of Krasnobród — Official parish website with Mass times.
Diocese of Zamość-Lubaczów — Diocesan pilgrimage resources.
Roztocze National Park — Information about the natural surroundings.
Krasnobród Spa — Town and spa resort information.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Kalwaria Pacławska (90 km) — The "Jerusalem of the East" with extensive Calvary complex and Franciscan monastery.
Lubaczów (60 km) — Cathedral city with Marian shrine and diocesan museum.
Leżajsk (70 km) — Bernardine basilica with famous organ and miraculous image.
Zamość (40 km) — UNESCO World Heritage Renaissance town with historic collegiate church.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." — Luke 1:46–47 (NABRE)
