Sanctuary of Gietrzwałd wasn’t my idea — my brother suggested we stop there on our way to Olsztyn. I didn’t expect much, but it turned out to be one of the most significant Marian sanctuaries in Poland — and, that day, almost entirely deserted. From the outside, it looked like many others. But the interior was a surprise: carefully restored, rich in detail, and unexpectedly grand.

Sanctuary of Gietrzwałd | Sanctuaire de Gietrzwałd | Heiligtum von Gietrzwałd | Santuario de Gietrzwałd | Santuario di Gietrzwałd | Sanktuarium w Gietrzwałdzie | Святилище в Гетшвалде | 盖特日瓦尔德朝圣地 | ゲトシュヴァウドの聖地 | 기에트슈바우트 성지

When travelling I like to be suprised. It usually happens when I fully rely on the opinion of somebody who already had been at a place or made thorough reserch in the internet. Sometimes it is just someone’s recommendation. Traveling with my brother, I usually drive, guided only by his directions and a quick glance at the map for distance and time. On this trip, I didn’t even know our destination’s name, only that it was famed for being one of the Masuria most beautiful churches. And the Sanctuary of Gietrzwałd indeed turned to be outstanding. We arrived there on a quiet September afternoon. The church’s interior was barely lit. But when I started to do photos, and close ups I was getting to realise the details. Below a few photos just giving the glimpse of the interior. They are enhanced by adding to it more light. But they indeed reflect that what we have seen there.

The Sanctuary of Gietrzwałd, located in northern Poland, is a notable site of Roman Catholic pilgrimage. It gained prominence due to the reported Marian apparitions in 1877. Its history dates back to times of the Teutonic Order, when in a small village a chapel was built. Gietrzwałd was at that time under the administrative authority of the Warmian Bishops, who were members of the Teutonic Order but had a certain degree of autonomy. The chapel and the village were distoyed during the Polish-Teutonic War. Later by the end of the XVth century, a single-nave Gothic church was built on a stone foundation. With time the interior was adapted to the Renaissance style. During the Baroque period, the church was equipped with new altars. The church took its current form immediately after the apparitions, under the direction of Arnold Güldenpfennig, a German architect specialized in Revival Gothic. His designs were characterized by their adherence to Gothic architectural principles, yet they often incorporated modern construction techniques and materials. He enlarged the church to create a harmonious blend of the Gothic and new Neo-Gothic parts, without disturbing the Gothic section. A transept with galleries and a presbytery with a crypt were added, giving the church the shape of a Roman cross.

Sometimes the most peaceful places appear when you expect the least.