Around 1190, a young Bavarian duchess arrived in Silesia as the bride of Duke Henry I. Hedwig of Andechs brought with her not only political alliance but a profound Christian piety that would transform the region. Over the following decades, she founded hospitals, ransomed prisoners, cared for the poor with her own hands, and established the first Cistercian convent in Silesia—here in Trzebnica. When she died in 1243, barefoot and wearing a hair shirt beneath her widow's garb, the faithful began venerating her immediately. Within four years, her granddaughter—later St. Gertrude of Altenberg—began promoting her cause, and in 1267, Pope Clement IV canonized Hedwig as the first female saint of Polish Silesia.
Trzebnica remains what Hedwig made it: a place of prayer, charity, and Cistercian spirituality. The massive basilica that rose over her tomb incorporates Romanesque foundations, Gothic vaulting, and Baroque ornament—eight centuries of devotion in stone. Her relics rest in a silver sarcophagus behind the high altar, while a separate chapel preserves the cell where she spent her final years in ascetic prayer.
Pilgrims who come to Trzebnica discover a saint whose holiness emerged from ordinary duties extraordinarily performed. Hedwig was a wife, mother of seven, duchess, and widow before becoming a religious. She nursed the sick, educated the young, and walked barefoot through Silesian winters to mortify her flesh. Her shrine offers not escapist piety but a model of sanctity achieved amid the demands of marriage, motherhood, and governance.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Hedwig (Jadwiga in Polish) was born around 1174 into the powerful House of Andechs-Meran. Her aunt was Queen of France; her sisters included Queen of Hungary and Queen of Bohemia. She received an education at the Benedictine convent of Kitzingen before her marriage at age twelve to Henry I, Duke of Silesia—part of the Piast dynasty that ruled medieval Poland.
The marriage proved fruitful in both children and faith. Hedwig bore seven children while developing a reputation for charity that astonished her contemporaries. She personally cared for lepers, washed the feet of the poor, and gave away her clothing to those in need. When Duke Henry complained about her generosity, she replied that she was merely returning to God what God had given.
In 1202, Hedwig convinced Henry to found a Cistercian convent at Trzebnica—the first in Silesia. She endowed it richly and saw her daughter Gertrude installed as abbess. The convent became a center of prayer, education, and charity according to the Cistercian rule. Hedwig herself spent increasing time there, though she did not formally take vows until after her husband's death.
Tragedy struck repeatedly. Her husband died in 1238, and six of her seven children predeceased her. Most devastating was the death of her son Henry II at the Battle of Legnica in 1241, when Mongol forces destroyed the Silesian army. According to tradition, Hedwig received news of the disaster with the words: "God's will be done. He was only lent to me."
After Henry I's death, Hedwig entered the convent fully, though she refused the position of abbess, preferring to serve as an ordinary nun. She intensified her austerities: walking barefoot even in winter, wearing coarse garments, limiting her food, and spending nights in prayer. Her confessor testified that her feet left bloody prints in the snow.
Hedwig died on October 15, 1243. Miracles at her tomb multiplied immediately, and popular devotion spread throughout Central Europe. Pope Clement IV canonized her in 1267, establishing her feast on October 16. She became the patron saint of Silesia and, after the canonization of St. Hedwig of Poland (the 14th-century queen), is sometimes distinguished as "Hedwig of Andechs" or "Hedwig of Silesia."
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Trzebnica
Basilica of St. Hedwig and St. Bartholomew
Bazylika św. Jadwigi i św. Bartłomieja
The basilica represents one of Poland's most important Romanesque-Gothic monuments. The original twelfth-century church was rebuilt and expanded repeatedly, incorporating elements from each era. The Romanesque portal, carved with scenes from the life of King David, survives as one of the finest examples of medieval sculpture in Central Europe.
The interior centers on the baroque high altar, behind which rests the silver sarcophagus containing St. Hedwig's relics. The elaborate reliquary, created in the seventeenth century, depicts scenes from her life. Pilgrims may venerate the relics during designated hours and special feast days.
Side chapels honor various saints and preserve medieval tombs of Piast princes. The Chapel of St. Hedwig contains items associated with the saint, including her ring and fragments of her clothing. Baroque frescoes throughout the nave depict her life and miracles.
Cell of St. Hedwig
Cela św. Jadwigi
A small chapel preserves the cell where Hedwig spent her final years as a religious. The austere space—little more than a stone chamber—testifies to her severe asceticism. Pilgrims kneel here to pray for her intercession, particularly for family concerns and the strength to bear suffering.
Cistercian Convent
The convent Hedwig founded continues to function, though the community has changed over the centuries. The cloister and conventual buildings surround the basilica, creating a precinct of monastic peace. Parts of the convent are accessible during guided tours arranged through the parish.
Museum of St. Hedwig
Muzeum św. Jadwigi
The diocesan museum, housed in the former convent buildings, displays liturgical objects, medieval manuscripts, and artifacts related to Hedwig's life and cult. The collection includes the famous Hedwig Codex, an illuminated manuscript depicting her life, though the original is preserved in the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of St. Hedwig — October 16
The principal feast draws pilgrims from across Poland and Germany. Celebrations include a solemn Pontifical Mass, procession with the relics, veneration at the sarcophagus, and cultural events honoring Silesian heritage. The octave continues with daily celebrations.
St. Hedwig Week — October (varies)
The week surrounding the feast day includes lectures, concerts, and exhibitions related to the saint's life and Silesian history. Ecumenical services recognize Hedwig's veneration among Lutheran Christians in Germany.
Assumption of Mary — August 15
As a Cistercian foundation dedicated to the Virgin, Trzebnica celebrates the Assumption with particular solemnity. The community maintains Cistercian liturgical traditions adapted for parochial use.
Trzebnica Anniversary — June 25
The anniversary of the convent's foundation is commemorated with historical presentations and liturgies honoring the Cistercian heritage.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Hotel & Restauracja Marjan ⭐⭐⭐ — Comfortable hotel in Trzebnica center, walking distance to the basilica. Restaurant serves traditional Silesian cuisine. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Hotel & SPA & Wellness & Conference Center Margerita (hotel & spa) — Resort hotel outside Trzebnica with full wellness facilities. Popular with pilgrimage groups seeking comfortable accommodation. Reserve this hotel
Dom Rekolekcyjny (pilgrim accommodation) — Diocesan retreat house near the basilica offering simple rooms for pilgrims and retreat groups. Contact the parish for reservations.
Wrocław Hotels — The city of Wrocław (25 km) offers extensive accommodation options for those preferring urban amenities with easy day trips to Trzebnica.
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Wrocław Copernicus Airport (WRO) is approximately 30 km south. International connections serve Frankfurt, Munich, London, and other European hubs.
By Train: Trzebnica has a railway station with regional connections to Wrocław (approximately 30 minutes). From Wrocław Główny, take a Koleje Dolnośląskie train toward Rawicz or Leszno.
By Bus: Regular buses connect Trzebnica to Wrocław (approximately 45 minutes). The bus station is located in the town center near the basilica.
By Car: From Wrocław, take Route 5 north toward Poznań (approximately 25 km, 30 minutes). Parking is available near the basilica.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Joseph Gottschalk, St. Hedwig of Silesia — Scholarly biography examining her life within medieval Silesian context.
Thomas Head (ed.), Medieval Hagiography: An Anthology — Includes medieval vitae of Hedwig with academic commentary.
Online Resources:
Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Hedwig — Historical overview of the saint's life and cult.
Basilica Trzebnica — Official basilica website with pilgrimage information.
🎥 Recommended Videos
The Life of St. Hedwig of Silesia — Documentaries on her life and Silesian context.
Trzebnica Basilica Virtual Tour — Video tours of the basilica interior.
🔗 Useful Links
Basilica of St. Hedwig, Trzebnica — Official website with Mass times and pilgrimage planning.
Archdiocese of Wrocław — Archdiocesan news and resources.
Trzebnica Town — Municipal tourism information.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Wrocław (25 km) — Cathedral Island (Ostrów Tumski) with the medieval cathedral, numerous churches, and the shrine of Blessed Czesław.
Wambierzyce (80 km) — "Silesian Jerusalem" with its baroque basilica and Calvary chapels.
Góra Świętej Anny (100 km) — Franciscan sanctuary on Holy Mountain, one of Poland's most important pilgrimage sites.
Bardo (60 km) — Shrine of Our Lady of Bardo, one of Silesia's oldest Marian sanctuaries.
Henryków (45 km) — Cistercian abbey preserving the Book of Henryków, which contains the oldest recorded Polish sentence.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Hedwig teaches us that holiness does not require escape from the world, but transformation of the world through charity." — Pope St. John Paul II, Trzebnica, June 21, 1983
