In 1597, as plague swept through the towns and villages of Małopolska, the faithful of Tuchów gathered before an icon of the Virgin Mary to beg her protection. The pestilence passed over their town. Word spread through the Carpathian foothills of the miraculous image, and pilgrims began arriving from ever-greater distances to pray before the Virgin who had saved Tuchów from death. Four centuries later, they still come.
In the hills where the foothills of the Carpathians begin their rise toward the high peaks, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Tuchów draws over 100,000 pilgrims each July for one of southeastern Poland's largest religious gatherings. The sixteenth-century icon that survived plague, fires, wars, and communist persecution continues to inspire devotion, its painted face of the Madonna gazing with tender maternal concern at all who kneel before her.
The shrine's character owes much to the Redemptorists who have served here since 1893. This missionary congregation, founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori in eighteenth-century Naples, brought their particular charisms of preaching, confession, and pastoral renewal to this Polish town. They find in Tuchów the perfect expression of their mission: helping the most abandoned encounter God's mercy.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The miraculous image of Our Lady of Tuchów dates from the sixteenth century, painted in a style that blends Byzantine iconography with Western Renaissance elements. The painting shows Mary holding the Christ Child, both figures surrounded by golden halos against a dark background. According to tradition, the image was venerated in the local parish church for years before the plague of 1597 revealed its miraculous power.
The shrine's growth began with that plague deliverance. Pilgrimage increased steadily through the seventeenth century, and the church was expanded to accommodate the faithful. Baroque renovations created the ornate setting the image occupies today. The painting received papal coronation in 1904, confirming its status among Poland's most significant Marian icons.
The Redemptorists arrived in 1893, bringing their distinctive spirituality to the established shrine. Founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori in 1732, the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer dedicated itself to preaching missions among those most abandoned by the Church. At Tuchów, they established a pattern of parish missions, retreats, and sacramental ministry that revitalized the pilgrimage tradition.
The twentieth century tested the shrine as it tested all of Poland. Nazi occupation, then communist restrictions, threatened religious life. Through it all, pilgrims continued to come, the annual July gathering an expression of faith that no regime could suppress. Since 1989, the shrine has flourished, with expanded facilities welcoming ever-larger pilgrimages.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Tuchów
Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Bazylika Nawiedzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny
The baroque basilica, expanded and renovated multiple times over three centuries, houses the miraculous image of Our Lady of Tuchów. The interior focuses on the ornate main altar, where the crowned icon is displayed in a silver frame surrounded by votive offerings testifying to centuries of answered prayers. Rich polychrome decoration and gilded altarpieces create an atmosphere of reverent beauty.
Redemptorist Monastery
The monastery complex adjacent to the basilica houses the community of priests and brothers who serve the shrine. The Redemptorists offer retreats, spiritual direction, and the sacraments throughout the year. Their preaching ministry continues St. Alphonsus's mission of reaching those most in need of mercy.
Chapel of Perpetual Help
A side chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help—the icon particularly venerated by Redemptorists worldwide—complements the main shrine. The chapel offers intimate space for devotion to this beloved image.
Pilgrimage Grounds
The extensive grounds surrounding the basilica accommodate the large crowds that gather for the July pilgrimage. Outdoor altars, Stations of the Cross, and meditation paths invite prayer even when the basilica fills beyond capacity.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Great Tuchów Pilgrimage — Second Sunday of July
The main pilgrimage draws over 100,000 faithful for one of southeastern Poland's largest religious gatherings. Pilgrims arrive on foot from parishes across the Tarnów diocese, some walking through the night. Outdoor Masses on the pilgrimage grounds accommodate the crowds, and confessions continue for hours.
Feast of the Visitation — May 31
The patronal feast of the basilica commemorates Mary's visit to Elizabeth. The celebration draws significant crowds as the pilgrimage season begins.
Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help — June 27
The Redemptorist feast honors the icon that symbolizes their congregation's Marian devotion. Special novena devotions precede the feast.
Assumption of Mary — August 15
Poland's great summer Marian feast brings pilgrims to all the nation's shrines. At Tuchów, the celebration continues the festive spirit of the July pilgrimage.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Dom Pielgrzyma Redemptorystów (pilgrim accommodation) — The Redemptorists operate a pilgrim house offering simple rooms and full board. Contact the monastery for reservations. Website
Hotel & Restauracja Tarnovia ⭐⭐⭐ — Comfortable hotel in nearby Tarnów (20 km) with restaurant and easy access to both Tuchów and the regional center. Reserve this hotel
Tarnów Hotels — The historic regional center of Tarnów offers varied accommodation from budget guesthouses to comfortable hotels.
🚗 Getting There
By Car: From Kraków, take Route 4 (E40) east toward Tarnów, then take local roads south toward Tuchów (approximately 80 km total). From Tarnów center, follow signs to Tuchów (approximately 20 km). Free parking available at the sanctuary grounds.
By Bus: Regional buses connect Tuchów to Tarnów (approximately 30 minutes). From Tarnów, connections to Kraków, Rzeszów, and other major cities.
By Train: The nearest station is Tarnów, with connections to Kraków (1.5 hours) and Warsaw. From Tarnów station, take a bus or taxi to Tuchów.
📚 Further Reading
O. Jan Mikrut CSsR. Sanktuarium Matki Bożej Tuchowskiej — History of the shrine and its Redemptorist ministry (in Polish).
St. Alphonsus Liguori. The Glories of Mary — Classic work on Marian devotion by the Redemptorist founder.
🔗 Useful Links
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Tuchów — Official sanctuary website with Mass schedules and pilgrimage information.
Redemptorists Poland — Polish Redemptorist Province website.
Diocese of Tarnów — Diocesan pilgrimage resources.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (60 km) — UNESCO World Heritage Site, the "Polish Jerusalem" with extensive Calvary complex.
Kraków (80 km) — Divine Mercy Sanctuary, Wawel Cathedral, and numerous historic churches.
Stary Sącz (40 km) — Shrine of St. Kinga with Poor Clare convent.
Dębowiec (30 km) — Bernardine monastery with miraculous image.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers." — Sub Tuum Praesidium, earliest known Marian prayer, c. 250 AD
