Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Kraków

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Kraków is one of the most recognisable Baroque churches in the Old Town. It stands on Grodzka Street, part of the Royal Route, a short walk from the Main Market Square and at the foot of Wawel Hill. Its pale, monumental façade is visible from afar, and the row of apostle statues in front of the entrance is among the most photographed sights in this part of the city.

Who built the church, and when?

King Sigismund III Vasa founded the church for the Jesuits, who had been building up their religious and educational presence in Kraków since the later sixteenth century. Construction ran from 1597 to 1619. The plans are attributed to Giovanni de Rosis; Józef Britius carried them out at first, Giovanni Maria Bernardoni later modified them, and between 1610 and 1619 Giovanni Trevano gave the façade, dome and interior their final form. The church was consecrated in 1635.

Why does it matter in architectural history?

Its form and interior layout follow Il Gesù in Rome, the mother church of the Jesuit order. The Kraków church is regarded as the city's first Baroque building and as a model for later churches of this type. The plan is a Latin cross with a dome over the crossing, and the spacious nave impresses even next to Kraków's other landmarks.

What is there to see inside?

The interior combines Baroque features with later additions. The late Baroque high altar holds a painting of Christ handing the keys to Saint Peter, while the apse carries stucco scenes from the lives of Saints Peter and Paul. The crypt is the resting place of Father Piotr Skarga, the renowned Jesuit and royal preacher. It is a place where Church history, court life and national memory meet.

How has the church's role changed?

After the Jesuit order was dissolved in 1773, the church came under the National Education Commission. Over the following decades it changed hands, and from 1809 to 1815 it served as an Orthodox church. In 1830 the All Saints parish, whose former church no longer exists, moved here, and the church still serves it today.

The apostles at the entrance

Along the fence in front of the church stand figures of the twelve apostles. They frame the entrance dramatically and have become a symbol of the place. They are easy to see from Grodzka Street, so even a short stroll along the Royal Route is enough for a memorable photo.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church? On Grodzka Street in Kraków's Old Town, between the Main Market Square and Wawel. It fits naturally into a walk along the Royal Route.

Can visitors go inside? It is an active parish church, so sightseeing may be limited during services. Please keep quiet and dress appropriately for a place of worship. Check with the parish for current arrangements.

What period does the building belong to? It is Baroque, specifically the early Jesuit variety from the turn of the seventeenth century.

Is Piotr Skarga buried here? Yes, his tomb is in the church's crypt, which makes the church an important memorial site in the history of the Polish Church.

Is this the same church as the one in Tyniec? No. Kraków-Tyniec has a different church with the same dedication, linked to the Benedictine abbey. The church described here is in the heart of the Old Town.

Why visit?

The church combines the grand scale of the Baroque, the story of the Jesuits in Poland and memorials important to Polish culture. It sits on one of Kraków's busiest routes, so it is easy to include in an Old Town visit, especially on the way to Wawel.