Church of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Stanislaw Bishop in Bodzentyn

Tourists wandering to Bodzentyn are greeted from a distance by the bright walls of the Gothic church. The sheer size of the temple distinguishes it from the low-rise buildings of the town. Remember, however, that it hides the greatest treasures inside - so it's worth spending a few moments exploring it.

The church is located near the upper market. It was erected in the 15th century by Zbigniew Oleśnicki. Although the basilica was rebuilt 2 centuries later, it retained its Gothic character. You will see here characteristic, high windows topped with pointed arches and massive buttresses. The entrances are decorated with gothic sandstone portals.

Inside, your attention will certainly be drawn to the intricately made main altar with sculptures of saints (Stanisław and Wenceslaus) and a painting depicting the scene of the crucifixion. It is worth knowing that this altar was made in the 16th century for the Wawel Cathedral itself. When the Baroque style became fashionable in the royal seat, the old altar was moved - first to Kielce, and in the 18th century to Bodzentyn.

There is an anecdote about the journey of the altar from Wawel to the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, claiming that the reason for sending this work of art to the provinces was not a change in trends at the royal court, but the horse's rump that dominated the painting, which distracted (and even outraged) the worshipers praying at Wawel.

When visiting the collegiate church, pay attention to the extremely valuable triptych with the depiction of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in the middle section. This work of medieval art dates back to 1508. Its author is Michał Czarny, the son-in-law of the legendary Wit Stwosz, and it is one of the most outstanding examples of Polish art in the transition period between Gothic and Renaissance.

The centuries-old history of the collegiate church is also evidenced by the Gothic baptismal font decorated with coats of arms and the foundation plaque from the 15th century. You will see the symbolic moment when Cardinal Oleśnicki presents the church he founded to the Mother of God.