Along the ancient Royal Road that once linked Kyiv to the Iberian Peninsula, Polish pilgrims now trace their ancestors' path toward Santiago de Compostela. The Way of St James Via Regia follows the medieval trade route through Kraków, Wrocław, and onward to the German border, passing Silesian shrines that have drawn the faithful for centuries.
📜 History & Significance
The Via Regia was one of medieval Europe's most important trade routes, connecting the kingdoms of Eastern and Western Europe. For Polish pilgrims bound for Santiago, it offered a well-established corridor with hospices, churches, and infrastructure to support long-distance travel.
The Polish section was revived as a marked pilgrimage route beginning in 2006, when the first stretch from Brzeg through Wrocław to the German border was opened. Subsequent years saw the route extend eastward through Upper Silesia to Kraków, following remnants of the medieval road through diverse landscapes.
🥾 Route Overview
The Way of St James Via Regia stretches approximately 500 km through Poland, from the Subcarpathian hills near Kraków through industrial Upper Silesia to the plains of Lower Silesia and the German border at Zgorzelec. The route typically requires 20-25 days of walking.
From Kraków, the path heads west through Wieliczka, Katowice, and Opole before reaching Wrocław. The route passes through varied terrain - from highland valleys to coal country to the fertile Silesian lowlands. Yellow scallop shell markers guide pilgrims along field roads, forest paths, and village streets.
☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites
Piekary Śląskie, the spiritual capital of Silesia, draws hundreds of thousands to venerate its miraculous image of Our Lady. The May pilgrimage of men from across the region is one of Poland's largest annual pilgrimages.
Góra Świętej Anny (St Anne's Mountain) offers a 15th-century statue of Saint Anne and an impressive Calvary with 33 chapels representing scenes from Christ's passion. The Franciscan sanctuary has served Silesian Catholics since the Reformation.
📚 Further Reading
Curated resources to help you research and plan your pilgrimage on the Way of St. James Via Regia (Poland).
