Lanckorona Market Square

This is a highly atmospheric place and a showpiece of the village. The unusual shape of the terrain (sloping, with a gradient of almost 10%), the cobbled streets and the surrounding 19th-century wooden cottages transform a walk through Lanckorona’s Market Square into a journey back in time. The characteristic buildings with arcaded houses around the Market Square make it one of Poland's prettiest complexes of old fine wooden architecture. Neat one-storey dwellings are covered with shingles, enriched with porches with lattice balustrades and covered with arcades, under which merchants used to display their goods. The wooden buildings of Lanckorona are included in the Wooden Architecture Route.

Among the best-preserved buildings are those located on the eastern frontage of the Market Square and on the neighbouring Świętokrzyska, Zamkowa, Krakowska and Piłsudskiego Streets. It is not without reason that the Lanckorona Market Square is often referred to as a ‘living open-air museum’. Family life goes on in the houses, and there are often mysterious, beautiful gardens hidden from view from the street.

There are plenty of cosy cafes and restaurants in Lanckorona, which are especially lively in spring and summer. The network of winding streets is lined with souvenir and handicraft shops, cafés and galleries. One of the most unique cafés and restaurants is ‘Arka’. Established inside a historic cottage, it also tempts with its beautiful garden.

The Regional Museum – the history of the village from the inside out

Professor Antoni Krajewski Regional Museum is located in one of the most beautiful wooden cottages at the market square. It is one of the few cottages that survived the massive fire of 1868. Inside is a Museum Chamber with ethnographic collections from Lanckorona and the surrounding area, such as agricultural tools, furniture, everyday objects, handicrafts and costumes. An excellent thing is a model of Lanckorona from before the fire and miniatures of historic buildings. One of the exhibitions is also devoted to the Bar Confederation. It is worth looking here for a while to learn interesting facts about the history of this unique place, its traditions and local artistic creativity.

Walking routes around Lanckorona Hill

When walking around Lanckorona towards the castle hill, it is worth stopping in the central place of the village at one of the religious monuments, the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist dating from the 14th century, founded by King Casimir the Great. It is undoubtedly worth visiting the Church and looking at the late Renaissance main altar, which features a painting depicting the Baptism of Christ. Along the way, you will also find stately wooden villas that are almost a hundred years old- the most famous of which are ‘Bajka’, ‘Tadeusz’, and ‘Modrzewiowa’. Lanckorona is also a place for lovers. You can take a romantic walk along the mysterious Alley of Silent Whispers (the Yellow Trail) and the Alley of Lovers (the Green Trail). In addition, hikers can take a walk along the Old Royal Route (the Red Route), the Road to the Marsh (the Blue Route), and the Road to the Old Quarry (the Brown Route). An information board detailing the trails is located in the clearing below the castle ruins; walking along the trails takes about an hour, but getting a broader perspective of this delightful place is worth it.

It is also worth taking a walk in the footsteps of the charming chapels. One is the brick Chapel of Bar Confederates, erected in 1910 and commemorating the Confederates killed at Lanckorona.

Lanckorona Castle

On the Lanckorona Hill are the ruins of a Gothic castle, built in the 14th century by Casimir the Great. The life of the Castle was quite turbulent, and the owners of the medieval fortress changed over the years. Initially, the Castle was in the hands of magnates, but it then became the main fortress of the Confederates of Bar. In 1772 the Austrians modified it to serve as a prison, but not long afterwards, at the end of the 18th century, it was packed with explosives and blown up. Although only fragments of the walls, towers and moats have survived, it is worth climbing up to Lanckorońska Mountain (545 metres above sea level). It offers a beautiful panorama of the village and the green surroundings.

Village of ceramics and angels

Lanckorona is famous for its ceramic products and, not without reason, is called the ‘town of angels’. Porcelain vessels of delightful colours can be purchased at almost every step. The second obvious souvenir from Lanckorona is an angel. In many shops and galleries, you can find hand-crafted images of angels. Every year, in mid-December, the Festival of Angels. The Market Square hosts an angel fair, workshops, vernissages, exhibitions, concerts and competitions. Gourmets can try ‘Angelic Delicacies’, sourced straight from local farmers..

Horse-drawn carriage route

Why not take a tour of Lanckorona along the intriguing horse-drawn carriage route? This unusual route is a reference to the inter-war period. At that time, Lanckorona was a developed tourist and leisure centre. The horse-drawn carriage route runs through five villages in the municipality – it starts in Podchybie, goes through Izdebnik, Jastrzębie, Lanckorona to Skawinki, and takes you past Lanckorona's main monuments and scenic spots. This beautiful route runs through scenic places and provides many unique experiences! It is an excellent alternative for families with children and a proposal for a romantic getaway for lovers. Don't hesitate to contact the Municipal Cultural Centre for information on horse-drawn carriages.

Surroundings – Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

The most famous place in the neighbourhood of Lanckorona is Kalwaria Zebrzydowska – the Marian-Passion Sanctuary with its monastery, referred to by many as the ‘Polish Jerusalem’. Only 3 kilometres from Lanckorona, it is a unique place at the foot of the Żar Mountain. For Catholics, it is the most important place of worship and a pilgrimage destination second only to Częstochowa. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, the Bernardine Monastery and the Kalwaria Paths with their historic chapels belong to the Kalwaria complex and are a monument of history inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Kalwaria is also famous for its renowned crafts, mainly carpentry and shoemaking.

Amber cycling routes

Lanckorona is also crossed by the charming and very picturesque Amber Trail, which was created as part of the Polish-Slovakian-Hungarian ecotourism initiative. The Trail runs along a valuable natural, scenic, and historical route from Budapest to Kraków. Undoubtedly an attraction for summer, the Trail connects interesting places and regions and is led through the most famous sites with stunning views. It is ideal for those keen to spend their time actively.