« back  About 1,500,000 foreign pilgrims visit Poland every year. Most Catholic pilgrimages are connected with the Marian cult. It appeared in our lands after Poland had accepted Christianity. Since its beginnings the Marian cult has played an important role in the history of our country and nation. That was best expressed by John Paul II at Jasna Gora on 5 June 1979, 'Mary forms Poland's history in her own way' The main pilgrims' centres are Jasna Gora. Jasna Gora visits 4-5 million pilgrims per year. 500,000 of total quantity are foreigners from over 80 countries. Second main centre is Krakow-Lagiewniki with the cult of the Divine Mercy and Saint Faustina. Over 2 million pilgrims comes every year to Lagiwniki from almost 89 countries. In Lagiewniki foreign pilgrims constitute almost 25% of all visitors, wherease in Lourdes 15%. Lichen (ca. 2 million pilgrims) and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (ca. 1 million) are also places worth visiting. For a last few years an important role in development of foreign pilgrims' movement has played the polish routes of John Paul II. There are a few variants of this route in our country, leading in various directions of our continent. |
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