Cistercian Abbey

Kraków


The Cistercian Abbey consists of a church and monastery, with a large garden-park behind it. The Cistercians came to Poland in 1140 and founded abbeys around the country, including this one in 1222. The church has a large three-nave interior with a balanced mix of Gothic, Renaissance and baroque furnishings and decoration. Have a look at the Chapel of the Crucified Christ (in the left transept), the polyptych in the high altar and the beautiful stained-glass windows behind it.

Transportation

  • tram: 10, 16, 21, 44

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kraków attractions

1. Church of St Bartholomew

0.07 MILES

The small, shingled Church of St Bartholomew dates from the mid-15th century, which makes it Poland’s oldest surviving three-nave timber church. It was…

3. Nowa Huta Underground

0.76 MILES

Nowa Huta's newest attraction opened in 2019 and focuses on the quarter's extensive network of atomic fallout shelters, built up in the 1950s and '60s…

4. Plac Centralny

0.85 MILES

This sprawling square and tram stop serves as the centrepoint of the Nowa Huta workers' housing estate. The square dates from 1949, and the buildings here…

5. Aleja Róż

0.9 MILES

This graceful, park-like avenue runs through the centre of the Nowa Huta workers' housing estate.

6. Nowa Huta Museum

1.02 MILES

Two blocks north of Plac Centralny, the Nowa Huta Museum is more like a glorified tourist office, but there is a small, well-curated exhibit space…

7. Teatr Ludowy

1.34 MILES

Nowa Huta's socialist-realistic architectural aesthetic extends to the area's main theatre, which was built in 1955. Early shows may have been dedicated…

8. Arka Pana

1.72 MILES

The retro-modern Arka Pana was the first church in Nowa Huta, built from 1967 to 1977 after much controversy. Authorities had intended the workers' suburb…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "poland/malopolska/krakow/attractions/cistercian-abbey/a/poi-sig/1420957/360295",
      "destination": "Kraków",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Poland",
      "city": "Kraków",
      "position": "superzone"
    }