Jodłownik is best understood through its two Marian churches, each with a different building history: the historic wooden church and the new parish church. There are also distinctive local attractions elsewhere in the municipality: Kostrza is known for its mountain forest and nature, while Szczyrzyc is known for a sanctuary and a museum. This makes it easy to plan your stay around the topics that interest you most.

The historic wooden church and its furnishings

The filial Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in 1585 under the patronage of Przecław Niewiarowski. It is a log-built church made of larch wood, with vertically boarded walls. These details complement one another: log construction describes the building method, while the material and wall treatment describe its specific execution. The wooden church is part of a larger parish complex with parking areas and paths, and is included in the Route of Wooden Architecture in Małopolska.

The furnishings also provide a reference point in time. The church preserves a late Renaissance pulpit from the end of the 16th century and a wooden baptismal font from 1915. The pulpit dates from around the time the church was built, while the baptismal font comes from a much later period. The history of the building can therefore also be traced through the different dates of its furnishings.

The new parish church and transferred objects

The new parish church was built following approval granted in 1980. Construction began in 1981 and was completed within six years; the church was consecrated on 2 August 1987. The dates refer to different milestones: approval, the start of construction and consecration.

The image of Our Lady of Jodłownik and two 16th-century bells were transferred to the new church. The image, known as Our Lady of Jodłownik, belongs to the Snow Madonna type. Thus, the history of the new church and that of the objects transferred to it stand side by side: the church was built in the 1980s, while the bells date from the 16th century and the Marian image represents a distinct religious iconographic type.

Churches and cycling routes

The historic filial church is part of the Route of Wooden Architecture in Małopolska. Both churches are also attractions along the Żeleński Cycling Route and the Carpathian Cycling Route. The wooden-architecture connection therefore applies to the historic church, while both cycling routes include the old and the new church. This is a useful distinction when considering the themes: the cycling routes feature both buildings.

Nature and culture in the municipality

Kostrza is a separate settlement and mountainous area in the municipality of Jodłownik. A steep climb through a beech forest leads to the summit of Góra Kostrza. A group of the fern species known as hart’s-tongue grows in the forest; it is also home to Pan Buk, a 180-year-old natural monument. The steep climb and these named natural features give this part of the municipality a different focus from the churches in Jodłownik.

Another distinct place in the municipality is Szczyrzyc. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Szczyrzyc preserves a miraculous Marian image that has been venerated there for almost 800 years. A museum with historical, military and religious collections is located in the monastery barn. This adds further religious and historical themes elsewhere in the municipality to Jodłownik’s church architecture.

When choosing a holiday apartment, the focus of your stay can be a useful starting point: would you mainly like to explore the churches and their architectural history in Jodłownik, or would you also like to include nature and other cultural themes in the municipality? Kostrza and Szczyrzyc should be considered as distinct local attractions.

Discover more destinations: Dobra, Rupniów, Pogorzany, Porąbka, Laskowa, Makowica, Limanowa, Poręba Wielka.

Go to the main travel overview: Limanowa.