Maria Snow
30 min from the Settlement
Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Snow on Igliczna — practical information
Igliczna is a unique peak in the Sudetes, on the slope of which stands the famous sanctuary of Maria Śnieżna. This place of religious worship is over 170 years old and additionally serves us with a brilliant panorama of the Kłodzko Land.
Igliczna - a low elevation the Śnieżnik Massif mountain range reaches a height of 845 m above sea level. Although the mountain is not very high, its characteristic cone that dominates the Kłodzko Land distinguishes it from the surroundings. What's more, just below the peak, on a scenic slope, stands one of the most beautiful sanctuaries in Poland, whose patron saint is Mary of the Snow.
However, this is not the end of the attractions that await you at Igliczna. You will also find mountain shelter “Na Iglicznej” with a brilliant view of the Śnieżnik peak and a great trail from Międzygórze.
How to get to the Sanctuary – Where is Mount Igliczna?
Igliczna Mountain (845 m above sea level) is a peak that rises in the eastern Sudetes in the Śnieżnik Massif and in the area Śnieżnicki Landscape Park. The hill is located in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in the Kłodzko County and Bystrzyca Kłodzka Commune.
How to get to Mount Igliczna and the Maria Śnieżna sanctuary by car?
The Maria Śnieżna sanctuary is a place of numerous pilgrimages, so we can practically drive to the top by car. The only access road to Igliczna leads through the village of Marianówka – Szklary.
However, on a narrow road alternating traffic is in effect, and entry is possible from the middle of each hour (e.g. 9:30, 12:30, 18:30) for 15 minutes. On the other hand, exit from Igliczna is possible every full hour also for 15 minutes.
Where to park your car on Igliczna?
Free parking is located on the hillside, about 500 m from the sanctuary. The asphalt road ends at the parking lot, and a paved promenade begins. It is possible to walk it with strollers, and it takes about 10 minutes to get to the church and the shelter.
Maria Sniezna Sanctuary – history
Igliczna has long been a destination for excursions and pilgrimages. In the mid-18th century, a copy of a miraculous figurine was brought here from Maria Zell in Austria. It was placed on a tree near the top of Igliczna, but during a violent storm the tree broke, the figurine survived miraculously intact. It was moved higher, where initially a small wooden chapel was built, and later, in 1781, construction of a temple began. The fame of the figure spread quickly thanks to the numerous miraculous healings and graces that were attributed to it.
The constructed church was consecrated on 22 October 1782. Two years later the tower was completed, and in the years 1821-23 the cloisters surrounding the church nave were built. John Paul II made a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of "Maria Śnieżna" on Góra Igliczna:
- as a priest on July 7, 1955,
- being a bishop on August 20, 1961 and
- as Cardinal on August 10, 1968
This place and its miraculous graces caused that already as Pope John Paul II crowned the statue of Our Lady of the Snows during his second pilgrimage to Poland in 1983.
Nowadays, the sanctuary is visited by many tourists. Due to its special character and picturesque location, wedding ceremonies and baptisms are often held there. The peak of Igliczna is an excellent viewpoint over the Kłodzko Land and the surrounding mountain ranges.