Wadowice - PKS - Buses and Buses - Transportation - Attractions and Sightseeing

Wadowice is a small town located in southern Poland in Malopolska Province on the Skawa River, about 50 kilometers southwest of Krakowa. It is inhabited by just over 18,000 people.

It was first mentioned in 1325. Initially it was a small center, but with the construction of the Central Galician route connecting Lviv and Vienna, it began to develop more rapidly. Although Wadowice has a long history, it was made famous by the figure of Karol Wojtyla, later papieża Jana Pawła II and now, as his hometown, is an important pilgrimage center.

Wadowice - attractions worth seeing

The city is primarily associated with John Paul II and the famous papal kremówki. But apart from that, it is also a charming town located among the ranges of Beskid Maly, with a number of monuments and interesting places worth visiting. If you want to get to know Wadowice well, however, you should start your sightseeing from John Paul II Square, the former Market Square.

John Paul II Square

This square is located in the central part of Wadowice and functions as a market square. Cultural and social life flourishes there, and it is where you will find the most cafes and pastry shops serving Wadowice's most famous delicacy - kremówki. Its central part is the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and most of the buildings surrounding it are kept in one style, which has to do with the large reconstruction of the town after the fire in the 19th century. The Square features a monument to Pope John Paul II, a fountain and a well.

Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

This is the largest and most beautiful church in Wadowice. It dates back to the 15th century, although according to historical records it was built on the site of an even older wooden church. It owes much of its present appearance to the 1808 reconstruction, following an earlier fire. Inside one can see the historic main altar, the miraculous image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a large organ and numerous naves and chapels covered with beautiful polychromes. In this church Karol Wojtyla was baptized, received First Holy Communion, Confirmation and celebrated his Primate Mass.

Family Home of the Holy Father

The museum is located in the former family home of Karol Wojtyla at 7 Koscielna St. on the corner with 2 John Paul II Square. Karol Wojtyla was born there in 1920 as the third child of Emilia (née Kaczorowska) and Karol Wojtyla. The museum's exhibits cover a total area of 1,200 sq. m., including attics and basements adapted for museum interiors. Inside one can find some of the original furnishings and personal items of the Wojtyls, photographs, documents, liturgical items or works of sacred art. The museum is visited annually by 250,000 tourists from around the world.

Sanctuary of St. Joseph and Monastery of the Discalced Carmelites

The site is popularly known as "Wadowice Hill" or the monastery "on the Hill" and includes a neo-Romanesque historic red brick monastery complex from the late 19th century. The sanctuary is dedicated to the cult of St. Joseph, Our Lady of the Scapular and St. Raphael Kalinowski.

Inwałd Park

This is a complex of theme parks located just 6 kilometers from Wadowice - a perfect place to spend a fun-filled day with children. The entire complex includes Dinolandia, which is a park with full-size multimedia models of dinosaurs, a Mini Zoo and a Miniature Park with well-known Polish and European buildings shown in appropriate reduction. In addition, you can find a fortress modeled on a medieval castle, as well as the John Paul II Garden, full of many flowers and plants, with the world's largest floral painting depicting the Pope's image.

Wadowice - restaurants and cafes considered the best in the city

The most famous delicacy from this area is, of course, the kremówka, which is ciastko napoleonka consisting of two layers of puff pastry between which is a sweet pudding cream. The best creamsicles and other sweets can be eaten at "Chwila Rozkoszy - Cukiernia", "Bonnie&Clyde Cafe" or "Kawiarnia Mieszczanska" and "Galicjanka" located on Jan Pawel II Square.

And when it's time to eat something substantial, it's worth going to "Pizzeria Piazza Italia" to taste real Italian flavors and feel a bit like in Rome's Zatybrz. For fans of meat dishes there is the "MUMU Grill" with tasty, fresh burgers, and for lovers of slightly lighter cuisine there is the "Happy Salad" bistro, where you can choose something to eat not only from salads, but also various tortillas, pastas and several types of pizza.