The Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows in Limanowa commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Constitution of 3 May. Right next to it is Limanowa’s Little Calvary, with a monumental altar, a Holy Sepulchre chapel and Stations of the Cross. Thus, a constitutional historical connection and several religious themes come together at neighboring sites.
Sacred sites and a recurring tradition
Every year on the first Sunday after 22 September, a procession travels from the basilica to the Chapel of Graces. The exact calendar date changes, so check the current dates locally before your trip. Its fixed place in the calendar gives the tradition a clear time frame.
Manor house, church and remembrance
The Regional Museum of the Limanowa area is housed in the historic Mars family manor house. The museum and the manor house as a historic building are thus closely connected; visitors can appreciate the site not only for its exhibits but also for its architecture.
The war cemetery on Jabłoniec includes a grenade-shaped mausoleum and the graves of 161 Austro-Hungarian soldiers, one German soldier and 247 Russian soldiers. These figures make the composition specific: the Russian group is larger than the Austro-Hungarian one, and there is also one German soldier. The mausoleum gives the memorial site a distinctive architectural feature.
In Łososina Górna, All Saints’ Church preserves a Gothic stone baptismal font dating from 1535 and a bronze bell called “Saint Andrew,” from 1520. The two objects represent different forms of craftsmanship: a stone baptismal font and a bronze bell, each with a specific date.
City park, cycling route and mountains
Limanowa’s city park, by the Jabłoniecki stream, includes a pump track, a dog park, fitness equipment, a picnic meadow and a campsite. The facilities range from exercise to spending time outdoors and camping, showing a different side of Limanowa from its historic and religious sites.
An approximately 25-kilometre cycling route starts and ends in Limanowa, passing through Jabłoniec and Golców and visiting two military cemeteries. The route thus combines cycling with specific places of remembrance. The cycling skills centre in Limanowa has 1,191 square metres of paved tracks and cycle paths; if you are planning a specific visit, check whether the facility is open to visitors.
Limanowa lies in a small hollow surrounded by the mountains of Beskid Wyspowy. In the wider region, Mogielica is the highest peak in Beskid Wyspowy. The “Mogielica” nature reserve and a 22-metre-high observation tower are located near the summit.
The wider travel area of Limanowa County has 36 hiking trails. Some can also be used for cycling, horse riding or cross-country skiing after appropriate adaptations. The Wooden Architecture Trail passes through Beskid villages in the Limanowa area and includes historic churches and manor houses set in the landscape. This offers a view not only of individual buildings but also of regional architecture in its landscape setting.
Discover more destinations: Kamienica, Kasinka Mala, Mecina, Raba Nizna, Kostrza, Porąbka, Lubomierz, Mstów, Poręba Wielka, Mszana Dolna, Mszana Górna, Szczawa, Limanowa, Rupniów, Dobra, Niedzwiedz K Limanowej, Nowe Rybie, Kasina Wielka, Kamionka Mała, Pogorzany, Laskowa, Jodłownik, Tymbark, Podobin, Makowica, Kobyłczyna.
For the overarching travel overview: Lesser Poland.
