Bodzentyn

Located on the Psarka River, Bodzentyn was founded in the 14th century by bishop Bodzanta, thanks to whom it became an administrative centre of the whole Cracow bishopric.

At that time, the town walls and a castle were erected. In the middle of the next century, a Gothic collegiate church of the the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Stanislaus, founded by Cardinal Zbigniew Oleśnicki, was built. Its most valuable monument is the Gothic-Renaissance triptych "Asleep of Maria" ("Zaśnięcie Marii") from 1508 by  Marcin Czarny, a pupil of Wit Stwosz. One should not forget about the temple of Church of the Holy Spirit, the history of which dates back to 1475. The greatest prosperity of the city dates back to the 16th century- waterworks, a bathhouse and a second market square were built then.

Currently, the biggest tourist attraction of Bodzentyn are the ruins of the castle of the bishops of Cracow. Also worth seeing is the 19th century wooden homestead of the Czernikiewicz family, where old household equipment is exhibited. There is also an interesting Jewish cemetery with preserved 55 matzevot from the years 1870-1934.