Monastery of the Poor Clares Stary Sącz

Monuments

Na wprost ulica, po lewej jej stronie drzewa, dalej wzdłuż niski dom i wysoka, jasna, kwadratowa wieża z bramą, dwoma oknami z łukami jedno nad drugim, małym okrągłym oknem nad nimi i ciemną kopułą z sygnaturką. Po lewej jej stronie jasny budynek dwukondygnacyjny z wieloma oknami, z szarym dachem, za nim widoczne dachy dwóch kolejnych budynków. Po prawej stronie wieży mur z dużą bramą, za którą widać drzewa. Za nimi od prawej widać szary budynek do którego dołączony jest po lewej stronie jednokondygnacyjny jasny długi budynek z czerwonym dachem, dalej pomiędzy nim i wieżą stoi kościół z sygnaturką. Za budynkami widać pola, kilka domów i wzgórza pod niebem pogodnym z niewielką ciemną chmurą po lewej.

Plac św. Kingi 1, 33-340 Stary Sącz Tourist region: Beskid Sądecki i Niski

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The Monastery of the Poor Clare Sisters in Stary Sącz has been rising above the valley at the confluence of the Dunajec and Poprad Rivers for more than 700 years. The founder of the monastery was Saint Kinga, Duchess of Kraków and Sandomierz, wife of the Kraków Duke Bolesław the Chaste.

The Duchess founded the monastery after husband's death in 1280 and also entered it herself. She relinquished her Sącz estates, namely Stary Sącz with 28 villages, to the monastery. She died in 1292, and her tomb is located in the monastery. The monastery church of St Clare, which was consecrated in 1332, was originally mainly wooden. It was rebuilt several times over the centuries. However, the most influential part of the monastery's current appearance was the early 17th-century reconstruction by the Italian mason Jan de Simoni. After his changes, the monastery acquired a typically Baroque appearance.

Particularly noteworthy in the church are the main altar, which houses the painting of the Holy Trinity, and the stucco scene of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Also beautiful are the 17th-century paintings of St Anthony and St Clare in the side altars and the unique Baroque pulpit, which was erected in 1671, as well as the 15th-century baptismal font in the vestibule. Adjoining the monastery is the 14th-century Chapel of Saint Kinga, which houses a Baroque altar with a statue depicting the Holy Duchess of Sącz from 1470. Unique is also the 17th-century door leading into the sacristy, which features painted scenes from the lives of Saint Kinga and her husband, Bolesław the Chaste. Stary Sącz soon became a place of worship for Saint Kinga. Her figure is mainly associated with Stary Sącz through her presence in religious worship and living historical tradition as well as legends, art and literature. In 1999, Pope John Paul II canonised Saint Kinga. The celebrations took place in the Stary Sącz marshes. The altar erected then can still be seen today. Also present at the canonisation Mass were the Poor Clare nuns from Stary Sącz, who had obtained permission to go outside the monastery cloister, especially for the occasion.