Basilica of the Visitation, Wambierzyce

Basilica of the Visitation (Polish: Bazylika Nawiedzenia Najświętszej Marii Panny, Sanktuarium Wambierzyckiej Królowej Rodzin, German: Basilika Mariä Heimsuchung) is a Baroque basilica minor located in Wambierzyce, Poland. The basilica was built between 1715 and 1723. It was given the status of a basilica minor by Pope Pius XI in 1936.

Basilica of the Visitation in Wambierzyce
Bazylika Nawiedzenia Najświętszej Marii Panny
Basilica of the Visitation in Wambierzyce
50.2924°N 16.2717°E / 50.2924; 16.2717
Location	Wambierzyce
Country	Poland
Language(s)	Polish
Denomination	Catholic
History
Status	Basilica
Dedication	Visitation of Mary
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Cultural heritage site
Designated	2 January 1950
Style	Baroque
Years built	1715–1723
Administration
Diocese	Świdnica
Deanery	Nowa Ruda-Słupiec
Parish	Visitation of Mary Parish in Wambierzyce

History

Interior of the basilica.

The present basilica is located on a hill, where in the twelfth-century, stood a wooden figure of Mary, the Mother of God. According to a chronicle from 1218, the blind Jan from Raszewo (Jan z Raszewa) regained his sight there. After the event, many pilgrims began visiting the area. Shortly afterwards, an altar, together with candlesticks and a baptismal font, was placed by the statue under the tree. In 1263, a wooden church was built on the hill.

In 1512, Ludwik von Panwitz raised a greater church, constructed out of brick. However, the church was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War. Between 1695 and 1711, a new church was built, but quickly began to crumble and was deconstructed in 1714. Between 1715 and 1723, another church was built by Count Franciszek Antony von Goetzen, which stands to the present day. In 1936, Pope Pius XI gave the basilica the status of basilica minor. In August 1987, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński had crowned the statue of Mary, the Mother of God, giving her the name of Wambierzyce Queen of Families (Wambierzycka Królowa Rodzin).