Sanctuary of the Relics of the Holy Tree of the Cross - Missionary Monastery

Information about the pilgrimage site

Holy Cross, also known as Lysa Gora, is one of the oldest sanctuaries and pilgrimage sites in Poland. In the 10th century, there was a pagan place of worship on this mountain. The situation changed in the 12th century, when Benedictine monks settled on the mountain. A great benefactor of the Holy Cross monastery was King Władysław Jagiełło, who came here many times to pray in front of the precious reliquary of the Holy Cross. The relics probably came to Poland from Hungary, thanks to Władysław Łokietek. The abbey fell victim to plundering several times and often changed jurisdiction, until the monastery was suppressed in 1819 and the monks’ material and cultural heritage was dispersed. Just before the war, the building was given to the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The relics of the Holy Cross, on which, according to tradition, Jesus Christ died, attract crowds of pilgrims, for whom reaching the top of the mountain adds to the difficulty of the pilgrimage. The peak, although not very high (594 m), is located in the Swietokrzyskie Mountains, and the monastery on its summit is a gem of the entire mountains. In 2016, the site was declared a Historical Monument.

Tourist attractions in the vicinity

The Świętokrzyskie Mountains – this low mountain range located in south-eastern Poland is one of the popular destinations for those mountain hikers who want to start with something less demanding. You can meet whole families on the trails, not only on the way to the Holy Cross, but also to Łysica – the highest peak of this mountain range (614 m).

Gołoborza – this is a local term originating specifically from the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, in other words, rock debris in the mountains. Among the Świętokrzyskie trails, you can come across this unusual natural phenomenon many times.

Oblęgorek – a small town with a castle that once belonged to Henryk Sienkiewicz, the Polish Nobel laureate and author of Quo vadis. Situated on a slope, the palace was built in 1900-1902 and was a summer residence for the writer. Currently, it is a branch of the National Museum in Kielce. On the ground floor, Henryk Sienkiewicz’s flat has been recreated – a study, living room, dining room, smoking room and bedroom. There you can see a gallery of family portraits, a collection of Middle Eastern and African weapons, jubilee gifts and hunting trophies highlighting the writer’s passions. The first floor, which many years ago housed rooms for children and visitors, currently houses a biographical and literary exhibition with the largest collection of albums and jubilee addresses in Poland. The museum has a library of 3,500 volumes – some bear the writer’s autographs or his stamp. On others, you can see notes written in Sienkiewicz’s hand. For more information visit:https://mnki.pl/sienkiewicz/

The former Cracow Bishops’ Palace – a branch of the National Museum in Kilece. It is one of the finest and best-preserved residences from the Vasa period. Located in the historical part of the city, the palace contains original interiors from the 17th and 18th centuries with unique elements of architectural design: framed ceilings with paintings from the workshop of Thomas Dolabella, polychrome beam ceilings and under-ceiling friezes, marble and stone fireplaces, portals and fragments of floors. The residential and guest suites exhibit handicrafts of the highest European quality: textiles (including Flemish and French tapisseries), furniture (e.g. Danzig wardrobes and tablecloth presses, a set of Italian Renaissance furniture). The exhibition is complemented by 17th-century French, Italian and Polish paintings. For more information visit:https://mnki.pl/palac/

Chapel of the Olesnicki family – a chapel containing relics of the Holy Cross, as well as a sarcophagus with the remains of Prince Jeremy Wiśniowiecki, a great leader during the Cossack and Tartar wars.

Other tourist attractions near the pilgrimage site can be found on the website of the Regional Tourist Organisation of the Świętokrzyskie Province: https://rot.swietokrzyskie.travel/.