If you want to visit the second smallest town in Poland, head to Wiślica. As of 2024, this charming town had about 468 inhabitants.
Situated on the Nida River in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship in south-central Poland, Wiślica is an easy two hour drive from Kraków through picturesque countryside. The town emerges quickly from the surrounding fields, marked by the slender Gothic silhouette of the Basilica of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Basilica Minor), and ends just as abruptly. Known as the cradle of the Polish State, Wiślica boasts a history spanning over 1,000 years.
In Wiślica, you can find traces of the early days of Christianity in Poland. The ruins of a Romanesque church house a baptismal font from 880, believed to be associated with the baptism of the Duke of the Vistulans. According to the Pannonian legend, this event was likely conducted by Methodius in the Eastern Rite. The town may have been the capital of the Vistulan tribe, which was incorporated into Poland in 990 by Duke Mieszko I.
Wiślica played a significant role in Polish politics in the 14th century. Władysław Łokietek began his reunification process here, ending the Great Fragmentation. The town was established by King Władysław Łokietek (Władysław I the Elbow-High) in 1326 as a token of his gratitude. After leaving Kraków, taken over by the Czechs, King Łokietek hid in the Church of the Holy Trinity.
King Casimir the Great, Łokietek’s son, expanded Wiślica, adding fortifications and a small castle. He also ratified the legal code for Lesser Poland here. The sons of Kazimierz Jagiełonczyk were raised under the watchful eye of Jan Długosz, who penned famous historical chronicles.
Once an important political, business, and industrial center frequented by kings, Wiślica featured regular streets, a stone-lined well, a water cistern, and 47 wooden houses. However, its downfall began during the Swedish Deluge when the city was heavily damaged in 1657 by the Siedmiogrod army allied with the Swedes. Wiślica lost its city rights in 1869, only regaining them 75 years later.
Wiślica boasts the largest number of historical artifacts per capita in Poland. The vaults of the Basilica hold remnants of two Romanesque churches from the 7th and 8th centuries, with a uniquely well-preserved ornate floor from 1175 depicting praying figures (the Slab of Orants)—unique even on a European scale.
Although heavily damaged during World War I, the Basilica’s presbytery still features Byzantine frescoes from the 14th century, commissioned by King Władysław Jagiełło. Across the street, Jan Długosz’s house- a Gothic belfry, dating back to 1460, remains well-preserved and unchanged. Part of it serves as a museum, while another part is a parish house. The town also features historical tenement homes.
These gems are best explored with a tour from the local Archaeological Museum, which was updated in 2022 and recognized by National Geographic as one of Poland’s must-visit places for 2024.
The museum offers tours and more information at https://mnki.pl/wislica/eng/visitors/tickets_and_opening_hours
