Bernardine Church

The Bernardine (Brownriar) Church is situated at the very foot of Wawel Hill. Kraków's first Bernadine monks were recruited from among the audience who came to listen to St John Capistrano, an austere preacher who gave fiery sermons against sin and excess during his stay in the city. The original, Gothic church was utterly ruined during the Swedish Deluge (1655) yet was soon afterwards replaced by the current one in the late 17th century. Walking up Castle Hill, we see how the church dome was set in its roof. It was situated so low - it does not exceed the height of the church façade - for strategic reasons so that artillery volleys from Wawel Hill did not damage prominent elements of the construction. It is worth turning your attention to the inside of the church where there is a baroque painting in the Chapel of St Anne presenting the dance of death and the mausoleum altar of St Simon of Lipnica. St Simon was a Bernardine friar who lived in the 15th century and who fell victim to the plague when rushing out to aid the sick. The monks have preserved his cloak to this day and it is believed to have healing powers.