The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, also known as Bazylika św. Franciszka z Asyżu in Polish, is a Gothic-style Catholic church located in the historic center of Kraków, Poland, on Franciszkańska Street and All Saints' Square.
One of the earliest brick buildings in the city, this church remains one of the oldest in Krakow. Over the centuries, it has undergone several remodeling and enlargements, resulting in a peculiar mixture of architectural styles, although the original structure of the period has been preserved. The temple received the title of minor basilica on February 23, 1920, granted by Pope Benedict XV.
The Franciscan order arrived in Krakow in 1237 from Prague, thanks to the intervention of Prince Henry the Pious. The construction of the church took place between 1237 and 1269 under the patronage of Boleslaus the Chaste, whose tomb is located in a chapel inside the church. The Franciscans also erected an adjacent monastery. During the 15th century, the temple was enlarged with the addition of apses on three sides and a central part in the form of a cross. Throughout its history, the basilica suffered several major fires in 1462, 1476, 1655 and 1850.
The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is one of the eight Franciscan churches in Poland that survived the Partitions. During the German occupation, the basilica served as the seat of the bishop.
Inside, the main altar from 1861 stands out, as well as late Baroque altars with curly columns in the nave. Also noteworthy are the chapels dedicated to Salome of Poland, the Passion of Jesus Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows, the latter separated in 1879 from the cloisters of the convent. The chapel of the Passion houses a replica of the Shroud of Turin and paintings of the Stations of the Cross made by Józef Mehoffer in 1933. The polychrome of the presbytery and transept was made by Stanisław Wyspiański in 1895, who also designed most of the religious stained glass windows of 1900.
The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi was a beloved place for Karol Wojtyła, who used to attend this church when he lived in Kraków. In front of the church is the Archbishop's Palace, where Pope John Paul II used to meet with young people, greeting them from the "papal window" whenever he visited the city.
The adjacent Gothic convent, which houses halls and rooms, was built between the 15th and 16th centuries, although it has undergone several reconstructions over time. In this monastery, Saint Maximilian Kolbe became a monk in 1919.