Wizerunek Matki Bożej Skalskiej

Our Lady of Skal - a large painting of the Virgin Mary, painted in 1863 by Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski on a rock in the Mnikowska Valley in a place called "The Circus".

There are several accounts explaining the reasons why W. Eljasz-Radzikowski painted this picture. According to one version, during the January Uprising, several insurgents were trapped under this rock by pursuing Russian soldiers. The Mother of God showed them a cave behind the rock where they hid. Another legend says that the initiator of the painting was Countess Potocka, who asked God to save her seriously ill daughter. In her dream she saw a rock in the Mnikowska Valley with an image of the Virgin Mary. After her daughter's recovery, the countess asked Radzikowski to paint the picture in this place. Radzikowski was probably also motivated by a desire to create a place of prayer for the participants of the January Uprising who were hiding there. After the fall of the January Uprising, the invader forbade to celebrate masses for the Homeland in Krakow churches. The inhabitants of Krakow, under the pretext of recreational trips outside the city, participated in secret masses celebrated at the picture of Our Lady of Skal.

The painting was an allegorical image of Mary in the style of the period, depicting the Mother of God as Polonia. The Virgin Mary's unusual beauty was depicted dynamically, in motion, as if emerging from a cliff towards freedom.

Father Karol Wojtyla arrived here during a trip from Salwator in Krakow on 27 April 1952. This trip inaugurated his wanderings around Poland and the world. To commemorate this event every year on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of his visit, Mass and vespers are celebrated here.

The image of Our Lady of Skal was painted over in the 80s of the 20th century. In its place is another, new one. There are steps leading up to the image, a field altar under the image, Stations of the Cross along the steps, and information boards and benches on the flat valley floor for tourists and those attending the service.