The Lesser Polish Way
Encyclopedia
The Lesser Polish Way of Saint James or The Little Polish Way of Saint James is one of the Polish
routes of the Way of St. James
, the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela
in Spain
. It runs from Sandomierz
to Kraków
through the Land of Lesser Poland
(voivodeship: Świętokrzyskie
, Lesser Poland
). It is an alternative path of Via Regia
(from Vilnius
, Grodno and Lublin
). Lesser Polish Way was partially re-opened on 25 October 2008. The whole Route was re-opened on 25 October 2009.
(Opole
, Wrocław), and then to Germany
, and secondly to Oświęcim
, Żory
and Racibórz
and then to the Czech Republic
.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
routes of the Way of St. James
Way of St. James
The Way of St. James or St. James' Way is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried....
, the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It runs from Sandomierz
Sandomierz
Sandomierz is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants . Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship , previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sandomierz County . Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction...
to Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
through the Land of Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
(voivodeship: Świętokrzyskie
Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship
Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, or Świętokrzyskie Province , is one of the 16 voivodeships into which Poland is presently divided. It is situated in central Poland, in the historical province of Lesser Poland, and takes its name from the Świętokrzyskie mountain range...
, Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Małopolska Voivodeship , or Lesser Poland Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, in southern Poland...
). It is an alternative path of Via Regia
Via Regia
Via Regia, i.e. "Royal Highway", denotes a mediæval historic road. The term, in the usual sense, means not just a specific road, rather a type of road. It was legally associated with the king and remained under his special protection and guarantee of public peace.There were many such roads in the...
(from Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
, Grodno and Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
). Lesser Polish Way was partially re-opened on 25 October 2008. The whole Route was re-opened on 25 October 2009.
The route
Legend: Bold text - cities with St. James churches- Alternative way from TarnobrzegTarnobrzegTarnobrzeg is a city in south-eastern Poland, on the east bank of the river Vistula, with 49,419 inhabitants, as of December 31, 2009. Situated in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship since 1999, it had previously been the capital of Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship...
- SandomierzSandomierzSandomierz is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants . Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship , previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sandomierz County . Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction...
– albergue, credencial, traditional and historical beginning of the Route- Dominican Church of St. James in Sandomierz, Sanctuary of blessed Sadok and 48 Dominican martyrs
- Queen Jadwiga's Ravine
- KobiernikiKobierniki, Swietokrzyskie VoivodeshipKobierniki is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Samborzec, within Sandomierz County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately north-east of Samborzec, west of Sandomierz, and east of the regional capital Kielce.-See also:* The Lesser Polish Way...
- AndruszkowiceAndruszkowiceAndruszkowice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Samborzec, within Sandomierz County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately north-east of Samborzec, south-west of Sandomierz, and east of the regional capital Kielce.The village has a...
- MilczanyMilczany, Swietokrzyskie VoivodeshipMilczany is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Samborzec, within Sandomierz County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately north-east of Samborzec, west of Sandomierz, and east of the regional capital Kielce.The village has a population of...
- WaligóraWielogóra, Swietokrzyskie VoivodeshipWielogóra is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Samborzec, within Sandomierz County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Samborzec, west of Sandomierz, and east of the regional capital Kielce.The village has a population of...
- Ossolin
- PęchowiecPechowiecPęchowiec is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Klimontów, within Sandomierz County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately north-east of Klimontów, west of Sandomierz, and east of the regional capital Kielce.-See also:* The Lesser Polish Way...
- KlimontówKlimontów, Sandomierz CountyKlimontów is a village in Sandomierz County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Klimontów. It lies approximately west of Sandomierz and south-east of the regional capital Kielce...
– ex-dominican church of St. Mery and St. Hyacinth, albergue, distance: 28 km.- NawodziceNawodziceNawodzice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Klimontów, within Sandomierz County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately south of Klimontów, west of Sandomierz, and south-east of the regional capital Kielce.The village has a population of...
- WiśniowaWisniowa, Staszów CountyWiśniowa is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Staszów, within Staszów County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland...
- Nawodzice
- KotuszówKotuszów, Swietokrzyskie VoivodeshipKotuszów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Szydłów, within Staszów County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland...
– albergue, distance: 37 km.- Szydłów
- Stary SolecStary SolecStary Solec is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Szydłów, within Staszów County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland...
- SzczaworyżSzczaworyzSzczaworyż is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Busko-Zdrój, within Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately east of Busko-Zdrój and south of the regional capital Kielce....
– St. James church, distance: 31 km.- BaranówBaranów, Busko CountyBaranów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Busko-Zdrój, within Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately south-east of Busko-Zdrój and south of the regional capital Kielce.-See also:...
- Chotel CzerwonyChotel CzerwonyChotel Czerwony is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Wiślica, within Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately north-east of Wiślica, south of Busko-Zdrój, and south of the regional capital Kielce.It is notable for its Gothic church...
- Baranów
- WiślicaWislicaWiślica is a village in Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Wiślica. It lies on the Nida River, approximately south of Busko-Zdrój and south of the regional capital Kielce...
– albergue, distance: 17 km.- KoniecmostyKoniecmostyKoniecmosty is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Wiślica, within Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Wiślica, south of Busko-Zdrój, and south of the regional capital Kielce....
- Pełczyska
- Koniecmosty
- Probołowice – albergue, distance: 10 km.
- SkalbmierzSkalbmierzSkalbmierz is a town in south eastern Poland, in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in Kazimierza County. It has 1,326 inhabitants .- History :First half of 12th century – Presumably Skalbmierz foundation...
- Skalbmierz
- Pałecznica – St. James church, albergue, distance: 25 km.
- LelowiceLelowiceLelowice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Radziemice, within Proszowice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately north of Radziemice, north of Proszowice, and north-east of the regional capital Kraków....
- ZieleniceZielenice, Lesser Poland VoivodeshipZielenice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Radziemice, within Proszowice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland.-See also:* The Lesser Polish Way...
- Sanctuary of Our Lady of Zielenice
- Lelowice
- NiegardówNiegardówNiegardów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Koniusza, within Proszowice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Koniusza, west of Proszowice, and north-east of the regional capital Kraków.-See also:* Lesser Polish Way...
– St. James church, distance: 19 km.- SzczepanowiceSzczepanowice, Kraków CountySzczepanowice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Słomniki, within Kraków County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately south of Słomniki and north-east of the regional capital Kraków....
- PolanowicePolanowice, Lesser Poland VoivodeshipPolanowice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Słomniki, within Kraków County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately south of Słomniki and north-east of the regional capital Kraków....
- Wola Więcławska
- Szczepanowice
- Stare Więcławice – St. James church, albergue, distance: 20 km.
- Zdziesławice
- KsiążniczkiKsiazniczkiKsiążniczki is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Michałowice, within Kraków County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately north-east of the regional capital Kraków.The village has a population of 280....
- BosutówBosutówBosutów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Zielonki, within Kraków County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately north-east of the regional capital Kraków.The village has a population of 672.-See also:...
- KrakówKrakówKraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
– albergue, distance: 17 km.- Prądnik Czerwony
- Rakowicki CemeteryRakowicki CemeteryRakowicki Cemetery is one of the best known cemeteries of Poland, located in the centre of Kraków. It lies within the Administrative District No. 1 Stare Miasto meaning "Old Town" – not to be confused with the historic Kraków Old Town further west...
- jesuit Basilica of the Sacred Heart of JesusBasilica of the Sacred Heart of JesusBasilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Roman Catholic church of the Jesuits in Kraków.-Architecture:This monumental Jesuit Church erected from 1909 to 1921 to a design by Franciszek Maczyński...
- St. Nicolas Church – close to Armenian KhachkarKhachkarA khachkar or khatchkar is a carved, cross-bearing, memorial stele covered with rosettes and other botanical motifs. Khachkars are characteristic of Medieval Christian Armenian art found in Armenia.-Description:...
- Mały Rynek Squere
- dominican Trinity Basilica – tomb of Saint HyacinthSaint HyacinthSaint Hyacinth, O.P., was educated in Paris and Bologna. A Doctor of Sacred Studies and a secular priest, he worked to reform women's monasteries in his native Poland...
- WawelWawelWawel is an architectural complex erected over many centuries atop a limestone outcrop on the left bank of the Vistula River in Kraków, Poland, at an altitude of 228 metres above the sea level. It is a place of great significance to the Polish people. The Royal Castle with an armoury and the...
– cathedralWawel CathedralThe Wawel Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Stanisław and Vaclav, is a church located on Wawel Hill in Kraków–Poland's national sanctuary. It has a 1,000-year history and was the traditional coronation site of Polish monarchs. It is the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Kraków... - TyniecTyniecTyniec is a historic village in Poland on the Vistula river, since 1973 a part of the city of Kraków . Tyniec is notable for its famous Benedictine abbey founded by king Casimir the Restorer in 1044.-See also:...
– benedictian abbey
Destination Santiago
From Kraków it is possible to go Santiago de Compostela. There are two possible ways. Firstly through Via RegiaVia Regia
Via Regia, i.e. "Royal Highway", denotes a mediæval historic road. The term, in the usual sense, means not just a specific road, rather a type of road. It was legally associated with the king and remained under his special protection and guarantee of public peace.There were many such roads in the...
(Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
, Wrocław), and then to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and secondly to Oświęcim
Oswiecim
Oświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland province of southern Poland, situated west of Kraków, near the confluence of the rivers Vistula and Soła.- History :...
, Żory
Zory
Żory is a town and city county in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland with 62,625 inhabitants . Previously it was in Katowice Voivodeship . It is located in the historic Upper Silesia region about southwest of Katowice.- History :...
and Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
and then to the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
Other possible names
- English: The Lesser Polish Way of Saint James, The Lesser Poland Way of Saint James, The Little Poland Way of Saint James, The Little Polish Way of Saint James, The Małopolska Way of Saint James
- Spanish: El Camino Małopolska, El Camino de Santiago de Pequeña Polonia, Ruta Jacobea de Pequeña Polonia
- Galician: O Camiño Małopolska, O Camiño de Pequena Polonia, Ruta Xacobea de Pequena Polonia
- Latin: Via Iacobea de Polonia Minor
- French: Le Chemin de Petite-Pologne
- German: Kleinpolen Jakobsweg
- Ukrainian: Малопольська Дорога Святого Яківа
- Belarusian: Малапольска Дарога Святого Якаў
- Russian: Малопольский Путь Святого Иакова
- Lithuanian: Mažosios Lenkijos Jokūbo kelias