Annually more than 4 million tourists from 80 countries of the world visit Czestochowa, in order to kneel before the icon of the "Black Madonna". Some people walk hundreds of kilometers. Today Częstochowa is the main religious center of Poland, because the local monastery "Yasnaya Gora" with its miraculous icon is considered to be the national shrine of the country and one of the main attractions of the region.
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How to get here
The nearest airport is in Katowice, about an hour's drive from the center of Częstochowa. The airport serves flights of such airlines as LOT, Wizzair, Ryanair and Central Wings.
In addition, from large Polish cities to Czestochowa, trains run, although in the summer months, many Polish Catholics still prefer a pedestrian pilgrimage to any transport. On the railway. the Częstochowa station arrives daily with half a dozen high-speed trains from Warsaw (3 hours 30 minutes, 38 złat), and about the same number of trains from Cracow (2 hours, 31 złat). About five trains a day come to Czestochowa from Kielce (2 hours and 20 minutes, 17 złat), and trains from Katowice (1 hour 30 minutes, 14-17 złat) stop here every hour.
From Czestochowa bus station there are buses to Krakow (2 hours, 20 złat), Warsaw (3 hours, 50 złat), Kielce (3 hours, 21 złat).
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Entertainment, excursions and attractions Czestochowa
The main shrine and the main attraction of Częstochowa is the miraculous icon of the Mother of God, one of the most famous and revered in Poland and throughout Central Europe. Written in accordance with the legend of the Evangelist Luke and known as the "Black Madonna", this icon has been kept in the Czestochowa Monastery in Yasnogorsk for more than 600 years.
Located at an altitude of 293 meters above sea level, the monastery, along with all adjoining buildings and the 106-meter bell tower occupies the territory of 5 hectares. The buildings of the monastery, on three sides surrounded by a park, on the fourth side, face a large garden. In the corners of the monastery are located bastions, each bearing its own name. The belltower, built in 1714 in the baroque style, consists of 5 levels and is crowned with a spire with a cross. At the highest, fifth level, decorated with statues of the four theologians, leads a ladder of 516 steps.
The chapel of the Virgin Mary
The icon itself is kept in the chapel of the Virgin Mary - the very heart of the monastery. The Częstochowa icon is executed on a wooden panel on which Christ is depicted, sitting in the arms of the Theotokos - with his right hand He blesses, and with the left he holds a book. The icon shows several incisions, which are believed to be due to the attack of the Hussite saber.
Cathedral of the Holy Cross and the Nativity of the Virgin
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and the Nativity of the Virgin adjoining the chapel is today one of the best examples of baroque in Poland. This is the oldest building of the monastery, dating from the 15th century, was almost completely destroyed by the fire of 1690 and repeatedly subjected to reconstruction. Between the cathedral and the chapel there is a sacristy, which makes up a single complex with them.
Library
Of considerable interest is the library of the monastery, a unique collection of which has about 8 thousand old books and a large number of manuscripts.
Knight's Hall
Behind the Chapel of the Virgin Mary is the Knight's Hall, erected in 1647 in the Renaissance style. The walls of the hall are decorated with paintings on the most significant events from the history of the monastery, and at its far end an altar of the 18th century is established.
Opening hours
The monastery is open daily from 05:00 to 21:30. The grand opening of the icon is held on the following schedule: Mon-Fri: opening at 06:00 and at 13:30, Sat-Sun. and public holidays: 06:00 and 14:00.
The prices are indicated as of July 2013.
Photo of Częstochowa (10)