Discover Czerna

• A Mass at Czerna Monastery can be arranged in advance as part of a pilgrimage visit.
• For an arranged pilgrimage visit, a guide can show visitors the monastery cemetery, the church, the Carmelite Museum and the Mission Museum, and tell them about the life of Saint Father Rafał Kalinowski.
• The Eliaszówka stream flows through the Eliaszówka Valley, forming numerous fast currents and small waterfalls.
• The ruins of Diabelski Most, the 17th-century Devil’s Bridge, once spanned the stream. According to local legend, the bridge was built by the devil.
• Several springs lie near the Eliaszówka Valley. The best known is St. Elias’s Spring, also called the Spring of Love.

At the monastery, religious visits and guided tours can be considered separately. If you would like to plan a Mass, it can be arranged in advance as part of a pilgrimage visit. A Mass is therefore a separate item to coordinate before your visit.

For an arranged pilgrimage visit, a guide can show you the monastery cemetery and tell you about the life of Saint Father Rafał Kalinowski. The tour may also include the church, the Carmelite Museum and the Mission Museum. For planning purposes, it helps to decide early what you want to focus on: if you are interested in a Mass, arrange it in advance; if you would like to learn more about the saint and the places mentioned, the guided tour is the main focus. Both depend on the specific pilgrimage visit and prior arrangements.

The Eliaszówka stream flows through the Eliaszówka Valley, which is characterised by numerous fast currents and small waterfalls. These features give the area a different character from the monastery attractions: here, the stream and its currents take centre stage.

Diabelski Most adds a historical and legendary dimension. The ruins of the 17th-century bridge are described as having once spanned the Eliaszówka stream. Its name means Devil’s Bridge; according to local legend, the devil built it. This story is presented as local legend, not as a verified account of the bridge’s construction. The landscape of the stream and the history of the bridge can therefore be considered as two distinct themes.

When deciding what to visit, you can distinguish between a religious visit, the landscape and local history. The monastery provides a setting for a pilgrimage visit, with a Mass arranged in advance or a guided tour arranged beforehand. In the Eliaszówka Valley, the focus is on the stream, its fast currents and small waterfalls. At Devil’s Bridge, the ruins and the stories passed down about it come together.

The precise location is also helpful when it comes to the springs: several lie near the Eliaszówka Valley, and the best known is St. Elias’s Spring, also called the Spring of Love. This makes the spring a distinct landscape feature, separate from the monastery offerings and the ruins. Which of these themes matters most for planning your trip depends on whether you want to focus on a pilgrimage visit, the landscape or local legend.

Discover more destinations: Wesoła, Krzeszowice, Bolechowice, Widoma, Raciborowice, Kocmyrzów, Rybna, Ojców.

Does a Mass at Czerna Monastery need to be arranged in advance?

Yes. A Mass can be arranged in advance as part of a pilgrimage visit.

What can a monastery tour include?

For an arranged pilgrimage visit, a guide can show visitors the monastery cemetery, the church, the Carmelite Museum and the Mission Museum, and tell them about the life of Saint Father Rafał Kalinowski.

Where is St. Elias’s Spring?

Several springs lie near the Eliaszówka Valley. The best known is St. Elias’s Spring, also called the Spring of Love.

See the overall travel guide: Kraków.