One of the most prestigious religious celebrations in Poland includes the Assumption of Mary in Czestochowa. It involves thousands of pilgrims from all over the world walking for ten days straight to the Shrine of Jasna Gora in Southern Poland from Warsaw on 14th August, a day before the main event.

This also happens to be one of the top Catholic pilgrimages in the world, and is one of the only remaining Catholic experiences in Europe.

The total number of visitors to the shrine is in the millions, as this is the most popular pilgrimage in the world for Roman Catholics. If you’re planning to be a part of this spiritually awakening journey and want to take a comfortable heritage tour to Poland, here are all the places you must visit.

The Concentration Camp at Auschwitz

Visiting the concentration camp is both a powerful and emotionally burdensome experience. It’s very moving for some, while others choose to pass on the opportunity to visit this historical site. Most of the people who passed away here were Jews, but several Catholic priests were also in the camp.

This includes Saint Maximillian Kolbe, the man behind the Immaculata Movement, who gave up his life to save a young father who was randomly selected to starve to death. In 1982, he was canonized by Saint John Paul II, and every year, Feast Day is celebrated in his honor on 14th August.

The Black Madonna a.k.a. Our Lady of Czestochowa in Jasna Gora

Traditional tales of the Black Madonna tell us that she was painted by Saint Luke and stayed in Constantinople for 500 years. After moving around, the painting ended up in a church in Jasna Gora in the late 14th century.

However, during a looting mission, a soldier threw his sword at it and made two marks on the right cheek of the figure. Pope Francis last visited the site in 2016 and bestowed the golden rose on it.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of God in Gdansk

Several people visit this site, as it is claimed to be where Mary descended like an angel to a man who was praying to God to save his pregnant wife in labor and his unborn child. The man witnessed the miracle and word spread; soon after, a church was erected where the figure visited him. Several expectant mothers and those who are unable to conceive make a pilgrimage here.

Pat Tours offers a unique travel experience with a wide variety of Polish American Tours including heritage tours, religious pilgrimages, and Catholic pilgrimages. With one-of-a-kind itineraries and minimal group numbers, we make sure your experience with us is comfortable and luxurious.

Check out our exclusive tours including pilgrimage to Prague and Poland and Franciscan Pilgrimage to Poland. For more information, contact us today.