Sanctuary of Our Lady of Gietrzwałd

Medals can be purchased in the shop!

Gietrzwałd lies halfway between Ostróda and Olsztyn, on the edge of southern Warmia, surrounded by small hills on the Giłwa River, a right tributary of the Pasłęka.

The church has been rebuilt many times. The first major renovation and adaptation of the church to the Renaissance style was carried out at the end of the 16th century.

Gietrzwald became famous thanks to the Apparitions of Our Lady, which lasted from 27 June to 16 September 1877. The main visionaries were thirteen-year-old Justyna Szafryńska and twelve-year-old Barbara Samulowska. Both came from indigent Polish families. Our Lady spoke to them in Polish, as Father Franciszek Hipler emphasised, ‘in the language they speak in Poland’. Our Lady, when asked by the girls: who are you? She replied: ‘I am the Blessed Virgin Mary Immaculately Conceived.’ When asked what do you wish Our Lady? the answer was: ‘I wish you to pray the rosary every day !’

In April 2012, a general renovation was carried out on the ground floor of the pilgrim’s house, with a reception area, two dining rooms, a food dispensary, a new kitchen, toilets, including for the disabled. The rooms were renovated with new furniture.