In the shadows of the Sudeten Mountains, where Silesia meets Bohemia, an ancient church preserves one of Poland's oldest Marian devotions. The Pietà of Stary Wielisław—a fifteenth-century sculpture of Mary holding the dead Christ—has drawn pilgrims for over five centuries to this remote village in the Kłodzko Valley. The devotion may be older still: tradition claims papal recognition from Boniface VIII in 1300, suggesting that this site was sacred long before the current image arrived.
Stary Wielisław (formerly Wielisław Stary, and in German, Alt Waltersdorf) occupies that ambiguous zone where Polish, Czech, and German histories intersect. The church has served populations speaking all three languages; the Pietà has been venerated by Catholics of various national identities; and the village itself has changed sovereignty multiple times. What persists is the image and the faith it inspires: Mary, cradling her Son, offering comfort to all who suffer.
The shrine's designation as an International Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows acknowledges this transnational character. Pilgrims from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany come to pray before the Pietà, finding in Mary's sorrowful face a reflection of their own griefs and hopes.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The origins of Stary Wielisław's sanctity are obscure but ancient. Some traditions claim that Pope Boniface VIII granted indulgences to pilgrims visiting this site in 1300—a claim that, if accurate, would make this one of Poland's earliest documented pilgrimage destinations. More certain is the arrival of the miraculous Pietà in the fifteenth century.
The Pietà (a depiction of Mary holding the body of Christ after the Crucifixion) belongs to a type that became popular in medieval Central Europe. The Stary Wielisław image, carved around 1400-1450, shows Mary seated, supporting her Son's body across her lap. Her face expresses profound grief; Christ's wounds are visible; the composition invites meditation on the Sorrows of Mary and the cost of redemption.
The church of St. Catherine of Alexandria, housing the Pietà, preserves elements from multiple periods. Romanesque foundations suggest a church existed here by the twelfth century. Gothic renovation in the fifteenth century coincided with the arrival of the miraculous image. Later Baroque additions reflect the Counter-Reformation revival of Marian devotion.
Stary Wielisław's location in the Kłodzko County (historically Grafschaft Glatz) placed it in territories that passed between Bohemia, Prussia, and Poland. The population was largely German-speaking until 1945, when the area was transferred to Poland and the German inhabitants expelled. The shrine's continuity through these upheavals testifies to Marian devotion's power to transcend political boundaries.
In 1994, the shrine was designated an International Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows, recognizing its significance for pilgrims from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany. Ecumenical services and joint pilgrimages have fostered reconciliation among peoples whose histories include deep wounds.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Stary Wielisław
Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria
Kościół św. Katarzyny Aleksandryjskiej
The parish church, combining Romanesque foundations with Gothic and Baroque elements, houses the miraculous Pietà. The interior focuses on the side altar where the image is displayed, surrounded by votive offerings and candles left by grateful pilgrims.
The Pietà—a polychrome wooden sculpture approximately life-size—occupies a shrine decorated with gold and silver ex-votos. The image shows Mary seated, supporting Christ's body, her face expressing the sorrow that gives the shrine its dedication.
The church contains additional notable artwork, including Gothic wall paintings, Baroque altars, and liturgical objects accumulated over centuries.
Outdoor Calvary and Stations
The hillside near the church features outdoor Stations of the Cross, allowing pilgrims to meditate on Christ's Passion in the natural setting of the Sudeten foothills.
Spring Chapel
A small chapel marks a spring traditionally associated with healings. Pilgrims collect water believed to have curative properties, continuing a practice common at many Marian shrines.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows — September 15
The principal feast of the shrine draws pilgrims from Poland and neighboring countries. Celebrations include solemn Mass, veneration of the Pietà, processions, and devotions focused on the Seven Sorrows of Mary.
Feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria — November 25
The parish patronal feast honors the church's dedication with special liturgies.
International Pilgrimage Day — Summer (varies)
An annual gathering bringing together pilgrims from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany for ecumenical prayers and shared liturgies, expressing the shrine's international character.
Good Friday
The Pietà's subject—Mary holding the dead Christ—makes Good Friday a day of particular devotion at this shrine. Extended veneration of the image accompanies the liturgy of the Lord's Passion.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Agritourism in Kłodzko Valley (farmstay) — The surrounding villages offer numerous family-run guesthouses and agritourism farms providing authentic Sudeten hospitality.
Polanica-Zdrój Hotels — The spa town of Polanica-Zdrój (10 km) offers several hotels with wellness facilities. Reserve this hotel
Kłodzko Hotels — The regional center of Kłodzko (15 km) provides varied accommodation options.
Wambierzyce Accommodation — The "Silesian Jerusalem" at Wambierzyce (15 km) offers pilgrim-oriented accommodation.
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Wrocław Copernicus Airport (WRO) is approximately 100 km north.
By Train: The nearest railway station is Kłodzko (15 km), with connections to Wrocław (approximately 2 hours). Local buses or taxis serve Stary Wielisław.
By Bus: Limited bus service connects Stary Wielisław to Kłodzko and surrounding villages.
By Car: From Wrocław, take Route 8 south through Kłodzko (approximately 100 km, 1.5 hours). Stary Wielisław is located east of the main valley road. Parking is available near the church.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Hugo Weczerka, Handbuch der historischen Stätten: Schlesien — German-language reference covering Silesian sacred sites.
Online Resources:
Diocese of Świdnica — Diocesan information (the shrine falls within Archdiocese of Wrocław jurisdiction).
Kłodzko Valley Tourism — Regional tourism information.
🎥 Recommended Videos
Stary Wielisław Sanctuary — Video tours of the church and Pietà.
🔗 Useful Links
Kłodzko Valley Tourism — Regional information for planning visits.
Archdiocese of Wrocław — Archdiocesan resources.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Wambierzyce (15 km) — "Silesian Jerusalem" with baroque basilica and extensive Calvary complex.
Bardo (25 km) — One of Silesia's oldest Marian shrines.
Trzebnica (100 km) — Shrine of St. Hedwig of Silesia.
Králíky (Czech Republic) (25 km) — Baroque pilgrimage complex at Heiligerberg (passport not required within Schengen).
Kłodzko (15 km) — Historic town with Gothic parish church and fortress.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Mary, our Sorrowful Mother, understands every grief. Before her Pietà, pilgrims of all nations find comfort in the embrace that held the crucified Lord." — Prayer of the International Sanctuary
"The Pietà of Stary Wielisław speaks across languages and borders. In Mary's sorrow, we recognize our own—and in her faith, we find hope for resurrection." — Homily at the International Pilgrimage, 2015
