Czestochowa The Black Madonna Day Tour From Krakow

The ride out is mostly on local roads and there was construction in some places but the time alloted for the trip had taken that into consideration. There didn't seem to be a lot of food options but we were happy with a quick hot dog and soda. We had a lot of time to explore on our own before our tour started and enjoyed the guided tour.

A worthwhile place to see but a very long day which could have been completed in a shorter time. Too much time wasted.. 11 hours for a guided tour that was 1.5 hours.

Beautiful views during the ride. Beautiful experience at the shrine. The guide was ver knowledgeable and nice.

Mass in the chapel of the Madonna was very moving. Our driver, Christopher was wonderful. This was a very special trip.

We used Intercrac in mid September 2022 for our tour to Our Lady of Czestochowa. They contacted us about a week before the tour and asked if we could switch to another day (which we couldn’t do because of other commitments.) We were somewhat apprehensive that our scheduled Saturday tour might be cancelled but were pleasantly surprised when it was not and even more astonished when our driver, Matthew, said it would be just the two of us! We were impressed that Intercrac honored the booking despite the small turnout. Matthew was a very personable guide, filling us in on some of the local geography and history during the two plus hour drive. There were some activities that weekend regarding the “Trail of the Eagles Nest” and he was knowledgeable enough to alter the route slightly to avoid traffic issues. Once we were at the monastery, he walked with us to the shrine, pointing out everything we’d need to know – where to eat, water fountains, water closets, etc . He also discussed the schedule of Masses and events at the shrine. We had an adequate amount of free time to attend Mass, file past the Madonna, grab lunch and meet up with Matthew at our prearranged location. Then, he introduced us to one of the friars (Roman) from the monastery who would be our guide for the next hour. Roman was an excellent guide, taking us around the monastery and the shrine, eventually through the sacristy where we were able to enter the front pew directly in front of the Madonna. (Great timing, a great tour guide, or great luck? .. whichever, it was one of the highlights of our trip!) Despite the long day and another couple hour drive back to Krakow, the time went quickly as Matthew engaged us in conversation and was open to answering any questions we had whether they involved areas we were driving through or life in Poland, in general. We highly recommend both Intercrac and Matthew.

We had a wonderful day at Częstochowa in the care of our driver Maciej and in the company of our guide Fr. Roman who has served Our Lady of Częstochowa for 42 years. It was wonderful to be able to attend holy mass in the presence of Our Lord and the Black Madonna and witness the deep faith of the Polish people present. Jasna Gora has a long and deep history and deserves it’s reputation as the spiritual heart of Poland. Fr. Roman showed us and explained the origins and history of many beautiful paintings, statues, icons, buildings and gifts presented to Our Lady. We were able to witness him playing his trumpet with other musicians prior to celebration of holy mass. A truly wonderful experience.

Our guide, Krzysztof, was very knowledgeable, explained so many things not only about what we saw but also about Poland, the people, and their culture. He explained a lot about religious practices and how adored the Black Madonna is. He also showed us some local hot spots that made for a unique experience and made us learn and share a part of the culture.

I was the only one on this tour, I like to thank them to have done the tour anyway. Andrej was a well of knowledge of all aspects of polish culture, I enjoyed all our talks during the drive. Jasna Gora is impressive, do see the treasury, it's enough time there to see everything. The way back through the eagle's nest is panoramic, Andrej was kind enough to take me to see upclose the Pieskova Skala castle.

Fabulous! Whole experience made even more so due to a having an extremely knowledgeable and engaging guide and driver. Andrew, our driver/guide, was very knowledgeable about the whole area, the history and geography and really brought so much to the trip and our overall enjoyment and understanding of the area and the day itself. He even went the extra mile, literally, when I asked about the castle at Pieskowa Skala and took us to see it!!! Andrew, we can't thank you enough for your companionship!!

The places we visited were so wonderful and beyond imagination. The guide was so knowledgeable and pleasant. He had very good time management

The guide was helpful and informative. We were traveling with a local Krakow resident who was pleased with thr guides info on history. Note: the Castle tour while very interesting, should be noted that there are 40+ steps up the hill to get to the Castle, a couple with us were unable to do it, they had to wait down below.

<p>Pieskowa Skala castle was very picturesque through beautiful countryside. The guide was very good and gave time to visit the castle and a stop for refreshments. The Black Madonna at Czestochowa was a very uplifting experience with time to pray at the church and to view the Black Madonna close up. The food at the polish restaurant was delicious a very enjoyable trip.</p>

<p>My wife grew up in a community of Polish Americans and the Black Madonna was an icon not only of the Catholic Church in Poland but of the church in her community as well. Many families had a picture of her in their homes. She wanted to see it in person. The tour was a day long drive and when we arrived a Mass was being conducted in the chapel where the picture was displayed. We had a small glimpse of the picture over several hundred people and through a metal grate. We waited to the end of the mass in the hopes that some of the people would leave but as the mass ended a cover was lowered over the painting. We understood that it would be open for viewing again at 2:00 in the afternoon but our tour could not wait for that. The only saving grace was that we were the only two people on the tour and our tour guide Bruno was delightful and we enjoyed talking with him on the trip up and back. If you are going to offer this tour you should understand when the painting will be visible.</p>

<p>Could have spent less time @ Pieskowa Castle and more time @ Czestochowa/Black Madonna<br/> Guide was professional, knowledgeable, and helpful<br/> Enjoyable day</p>

<p>Beautiful castle: worthwhile are the beautifully restored renaissance courtyard, the impressive paintings and sculptures collection insight and the friendly and experienced guide. The church of the Black Madonna is like a little Vatican en the shrine itself, beautifully restored. After the tour, the guide even went with us to Krakow on a voluntary basis to show us some hidden places on the market square. highly recommanded.</p>

<p>While both tour destinations were outstanding and well worth a visit if a castle visit and religious shrine are your interests, we could have done without the snarky, anti-religion attitude of Andrew the tour guide. Fortunately, most of the visit to the shrine was self-guided after a brief introduction by Andrew. He should present a neutral opinion since most people taking this tour are almost certainly going for a spiritual experience. There were several museums at the site he just pointed out the entrance to. Other guides were together with other groups in the museums, offering commentary, etc. Why not with this pricey tour?</p>

<p>This review may well be published because it is positive. Do not waste your time on negative reviews as it appears they are ignored.</p>

<p>My experience was really very good and I recommend this tour to everyone who visit Poland! Jasna Gora monastery in Czestochowa is very special place and Black Madonna extraordinary! Our guide Andrew Andrej? was really nice and friendly person, his information about history of Poland was really useful! Pieskowa Skala Castle was also nice with its long history and beautiful nature. This tour was the highlight of my trip. Thank you!</p>

<p>For anyone interested in pilgrimage sites, this is a must do. To see this incredible painting and see the beauty of the chapels, it's breathtaking. My guide recommended the covering of the painting at noon only occurs during winter and I'm so thankful he did! I thought it would be a cloth over it, but there were drums and a plaque lowered over it. FYI Pieskowa Skala Castle is closed on weekdays in the winter season, but it was still beautiful to see the national park from the outside. My guide was absolutely delightful and so informative about the area and history of the painting. I highly recommend this tour to anyone!!!</p>

<p>Czestochowas was very crowded which cant be helped but very interesting. The Castle was nice. The tour guide was very informative and helpful.</p>

<p>Anyone visiting Poland needs to go to Czestochowa.<br/> Wish we could have left earlier to catch the mass at 11:00</p>

<p>It was very interesting to see the famous Black Madonna, learn its history and visit to the Pieskowa Skala castle was also good. It is nice nature around the castle and I wish we had time to walk a bit in the national park. The main drawback for me during the visit to Czestochowa is that our driver/guide showed us Black madonna with Basilica in 15 minutes he gave us a history overview on the way in the car and then we were left for 2 hrs on our own. There is not much written in English in museums. I saw nice group tours in treasury, arcenal, etc., but this was not the case for our tour. I think the tour could be improved in this aspect. Although, we had a guided tour within Pieskowa Skala Castle. I would recommend this tour only if you have plenty of time to spare, as there are many things to see in Krakow and it is a very long drive 2 hrs each way.</p>

<p>The castle was closed, the agency knew it and they did not replace it with something else</p>

<p>Our tour was very good. The only downside was that we could not visit pieskowa castle due to restoration work underway. The operator had been up front months ago at the time we booked which was the classy way to handle this. The Jasna gora monastery was quite impressive. Be sure to see the treasury, arsenal and the museum is in addition to the basilica and icon.</p>

<p>Enjoyed the trip to both locations, but guide didn't seem to provide very much information. Unfortunately Pieskowa Castle was closed and would not recommend doing this trip unless it is open.</p>

<p>We were only three people, who booked this tour, so we went by private car. All was very good organized - the pick up from the Hotel Wyspianski with a bigger bus and the transfer to the private car with driver/guide at the Hotel Sheraton. <br/> The tour guide was very nice, gave us a lot of information and told us many stories - in perfect English.<br/> Jasna Gora is a special place with good energy. <br/> A great day!</p>

<p>The castle was closed and we missed it, the very nice driver Kristoff told us that the agency still puts it on the programm well knowing that is closed in winter time. They did not offer us to see something else either</p>

<p>Another excellent day. The guide once more being very knowledgable and handling the organisation of the day extremely well.</p>

<p>Our tour guide Mr. Andrzej was very knowledgeable and pleasant. We were very surprised that our tour ended up being a private one! And the castle was such an excellent bonus side trip. Even if you speak the language like I do, I still recommend this trip so that you can learn things while you travel comfortably and stress free.</p>

<p>Very nice tour. Guide was personable knowledgeable and extremely helpful even to the point of helping to order lunch items and show us some hidden parts of Krakow when we returned. Very much recommended.</p>

<p>the tour was very good, just can dont incluid the last part of the ruins of the castle, no really interested</p>

<p>Love the day trip and the guide is very knowledgeable.</p>

<p>The guide was very knowledgable. His English was perfect, and he was very nice. The tour was a wonderful experience. I suggest it to anyone who is interested in visiting Poland.</p>

<p>Overall, very good tour. Interesting guide (Andrew).</p>

<p>Pieskowa skala castle was not a necessary stop for me. More time should have been given at the<br/> "Black Madonna". We felt we were being rushed by the guide</p>

<p>It was really a surprise for me because I was the only one taking this tour that day, Oct 24, 2013. It was a good thing the tour wasn't cancelled and I was instead referred to an independent travel agency. Imagine I had my own driver cum tour guide in a private car! The Pieskowa Scala Castle was not really that impressive and there were some construction/renovations going on. However, the museum inside was quite impressive! For that alone it was worth the trip! After that, we went straight to the Shrine of the Black Madonna in Czestochowa which was really beyond my expectations! I was able to attend the unveiling ceremony of the icon followed by a mass. Over-all, it was a tour I would really recommend.</p>

<p>Czestochowa is well worth the trip as a pilgrim, but probably not so much if you're more of a tourist. The drive is an hour and a half each way, so you're basically tying up a day to do this. Our guide Andrew was very knowledgable, and saved the Castle tour from being a disaster when road construction kept us from getting to the castle before closing time. He gave a great exterior tour, and made King Kasimir's project come alive.</p>

<p>Absolutely beautiful and very well organised. Our guide Andrzej was very well informed and a wonderful guide. Czestochowa is beautiful and we got there in time to see the unveiling of the picture in the church, a beautiful moment. Would definitely recommend going there!!</p>

<p>There is TOO MUCH packed into this tour! The experience at the monastery is very intense- it is jam-packed with people and we were exhausted afterwards from trying to battle our way in to see the icon. The trip there from Krakow took three hours, not two, so we did not have time to eat lunch. And after the monastery, there is still the trip to the castle, which is up a very long set of stairs. It's too much to do and not enough time for things like eating and using the facilities.</p>

<p>Black Madonna was good. Castle was not wort it. Guide was mediocre. He spent 10 minutes at black madona and then left us on our own for 3 hours. Did not describe what statues or pictures meant like we saw other guides spending time with their group.</p>

<p>The highlight of the tour was the Nun lead tour of Czestochowa and seeing the Black Madonna. Meanwhile our Viator guide went home while we were touring the shrine and brought us back home made cookies. We loved the Poles and Poland.</p>

<p>Fabulous tour. Our tour guide was Krystof, so knowledgeable, perfect gentleman, fun day together.</p>

<p>Excellent day with Andrew of Cracow Tours. Made it to Jasna Gory for the veiling of the Black Madonna and just enjoyed the whole day.</p>

<p>Nice guide tour and the guide spoke an excelent english so it was very easy to understand</p>

<p>Again but again incorrect time given the tour itself was very good if it wasn't for a kind local ringing and checking for mr I would have missed it again will not use your web site.</p>

<p>go if you are really into visiting pilgrimage sites...the 1;30 CHURCH vit whe the madonna is unveiled is a warm expoerience as everyone there is deeply involved in the experience...drive there not great...</p>

<p>A wonderful day out. At the black Madonna there is so much to see. A placeof prayer for us catholics. Time was short, though our wonderful guide granted us another half an hour on our request. At the Castle we could have saved time to spend at Cztochowa.</p>

<p>This was a fantastic trip.Pieskowa Skala Castle is a definite must for all travellers. It's a beautiful place.Czestochowa is a fantastic spiritual place and the black Madonna worth the trip alone.A nun was our tour guide and she was amazing.The only down side was the maroon coach and the inadequate knee room .</p>

<p>The driver Andrew was very informative. <br/> You get plenty of time ate the black madonna.<br/> In the castle you get a good insight on the work of arts. Especially if the tourguide i very passionate about the object their.</p>