Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Kraków

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul at Grodzka 52a is the first Baroque building in Kraków. It was founded for the Jesuits by King Sigismund III Vasa, and since 1830 it has served the parish of All Saints.

From the Jesuits to a parish

Construction began on 23 June 1597, and the consecration took place on 8 July 1635. The original plans were made by Giovanni de Rosis and carried out by Józef Britius, and the design was modified by Giovanni Maria Bernardoni. The final form of the façade, dome and interior was given in 1610-1619 by Giovanni Trevano.

After the dissolution of the Jesuits in 1773 the church came under the administration of the Commission of National Education, then the Kraków university and the Cistercians. In 1809-1815 it was an Orthodox church.

The façade and the fence with the apostles

The two-storey dolomite façade refers to the Roman churches of Santa Susanna and Il Gesù. In the niches stand statues of Jesuit saints by David Heel: Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Aloysius Gonzaga and Stanisław Kostka. Above the portal is the emblem of the Jesuits, higher up are figures of St Sigismund and St Ladislaus, and the whole is crowned by the founder's coat of arms.

The square in front of the church is surrounded by a fence designed by Kacper Bażanka, made in 1722 of Pińczów limestone, with sculptures of the apostles. Today modern copies stand there, because the originals were deteriorating from acid rain.

Interior

The vaults are covered with stucco decoration. In the apse of the chancel there are scenes from the lives of St Peter and St Paul and of St Adalbert and St Stanislaus. The late Baroque high altar of 1735 is decorated with sculptures by Antoni Frączkiewicz, and the painting The Handing of the Keys to St Peter was painted around 1820 by Józef Brodowski.

Crypt and Foucault pendulum

In the crypt rest, among others, Father Piotr Skarga and Bishop Andrzej Trzebicki. The church also serves as Kraków's National Pantheon, where several modern figures of culture and the Church are buried.

In the nave hangs a Foucault pendulum 46.5 m long, the longest in Poland, and according to sources its demonstrations took place every Thursday. Today check the date with the parish. In 1638 the Jesuits founded a music ensemble here, the largest in Poland at the time. Today the church has an organ with 45 stops.

Next door

A few dozen metres from here stands the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, and Wawel Hill with the royal castle is about 300 m away.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Grodzka 52a, Kraków, Old Town.
• The church is active, and visiting is possible outside services. Check the hours on the parish website apostolowie.pl.
• Dress appropriate to a place of worship is required.