Wambierzyce

Calvary

The Calvary complex went through many rebuilds, with some of the most important works done after 1788. More changes to the chapels happened in the 19th century – around 1825–1841, in the late 1800s, and again in the early 20th century.

By the mid-18th century, the main paths on Calvary Hill were already set, and later changes were rather small. In the second half of the 19th century, the western slope opposite the church got a terraced layout, with new cross-paths connecting the main roads. Not long after the first Calvary chapels were built on the hill, more were added in the center of Wambierzyce. The first roadside shrines appeared after 1693 along what is now Szpitalna Street, and later on other streets too. They were arranged in different ways – alone, in rows, or closing off the ends of streets – all inspired by Jerusalem.

The complex also included two hermitages: one on Calvary Hill, the other on New Hill (called Tabor or Sinai), plus outdoor Stations of the Cross on both hills. The hermitage on Calvary Hill was founded by Daniel Paschasius von Osterberg, and the first hermit settled there in either 1685 or 1699.

The Stations of the Cross on Calvary Hill were built in 1732. At first, they followed the Jerusalem model, placed at roadside shrines. Wooden crosses with tin rosettes marked the stations, later decorated with paintings (replaced over the years). By the mid-19th century, the first stations were rebuilt as stone monuments with inscriptions, paintings, and decorations. At the end of the 19th century, these were replaced again with the chapels you can still see today – plastered, brick shrines in a neoclassical style with simple ornaments.

The Wambierzyce Calvary has a very rich iconographic program, connected with the biblical names of the surrounding hills and valleys – Zion, Calvary, Mount Horeb, Sinai, Tabor, and the stream called Cedron. The whole complex was designed to remind people of Jerusalem and the Bible.

The iconographic program is divided into three parts:

1. Childhood and youth of Jesus (with Mary’s story) – shown in chapels around the church. It covers events from the Annunciation up to Jesus’ baptism, and from Mary’s announcement to her Assumption. Statues and grottoes on the church facade represent evangelists, saints, and finally the Coronation of Mary.
2. Jesus’ public life and Passion – represented in chapels on Calvary Hill and in the village. The pilgrim route starts with the Temptation of Christ and follows the Gospel and Christian tradition, including many apocryphal stories.
3. Typological scenes on New Hill – mixing Old and New Testament events, like the Transfiguration, the Call of Moses, the Ten Commandments, and the Bronze Serpent.

All together, walking the whole Calvary takes about 4–5 hours for a pilgrim.

The program also includes 14 symbolic gates, modeled partly on real Jerusalem gates and partly given their own names. They were meant to recall Jerusalem, highlight key events from Jesus’ life, and even dedicate the town to St. Florian for protection against fires.