The Collegiate Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wiślica

The Collegiate Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wiślica is a Gothic church built in the 14th century by Casimir the Great on the foundations of two earlier Romanesque temples. In 2005, it was granted the title of a minor basilica, and in 2018, it was inscribed on the list of Historic Monuments of Poland. The construction of the first collegiate church was initiated by Duke Henry of Sandomierz in the 12th century, and in the 13th century, a larger temple dedicated to the Holy Trinity was erected. The current collegiate church, the third in succession, was built starting in 1350. The church played a significant political role and was constructed as an act of penance for the murder of Canon Marcin Baryczka. It has been renovated many times, including in the 19th and 20th centuries following war damage. Architecturally, the basilica was built of ashlar stone, features a pseudo-nave structure, and its interior is distinguished by a tripartite vault and a chancel with a Gothic sacrament house and Byzantine-Ruthenian polychrome. An important element is the statue of the Madonna of Łokietek, before which Władysław Łokietek and Queen Jadwiga prayed. The basement houses an archaeological reserve with unique findings. The church is part of the Małopolska Way of St. James, highlighting its cultural significance in the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Currently, the custodian of the basilica is Fr. Wiesław Stępień.