Pietrzykowice: History, Chapel and Pilgrimage Route

Pietrzykowice brings together a village history dating back to the 13th century, a single-nave church, a memorial chapel and a pilgrimage route. Local customs also have a history of their own here. The village offers several distinct themes for your stay: historical development, religious buildings, landscape and the memory of regional traditions.

History of the Village

Pietrzykowice was established in the 13th century on the site of a Slavic settlement that had been destroyed by Tatar raids. Historically, the village was called Schreibersdorf and was founded under Magdeburg law. Its name and founding charter point to different aspects of its early history: an earlier name and the legal framework under which it was founded. Pietrzykowice later became a ducal village before being gifted to the Cistercians of Rudy near Racibórz. This sequence traces the village’s development from its beginnings to a later change of ownership.

Church and Memorial Chapel

The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a single-nave, masonry building with a tower. “Single-nave” describes a church with one main nave; together with the masonry construction and tower, these are specific features of its design.

The chapel on “Midorowym Polu” is located on Wielodroga Street. The residents of Pietrzykowice built it to commemorate the abolition of serfdom in Galicia on 15 May 1848. Its dedication links a named location to a precisely dated event in regional history. A municipal post dated 11 September 2012 recommended the chapel as part of walks and cycling trips.

Landscape and Pilgrimage Route

Pietrzykowice lies on treeless elevations in the Żywiec Basin, between the valleys of the Żarnówka and Kalna streams. The landscape can thus be described in terms of open high ground and the two stream valleys.

The marked Beskidzka Droga św. Jakuba passes through the village. The pilgrimage route follows old pilgrimage paths with both local and international reach. If you plan to use the route, check the markings before setting off. The chapel and pilgrimage route offer different historical connections: the chapel commemorates an event from 1848, while the route links Pietrzykowice with old pilgrimage paths.

Local Cultural Events

The Przegląd Zespołów Kolędniczych i Obrzędowych is organized every year by the Gminny Ośrodek Kultury in Łodygowice and the Sołectwo Council of Pietrzykowice. The 2023 and 2024 editions provide examples of the event’s program.

In 2023, the 34th edition returned to the stage at the OSP fire station in Pietrzykowice after two pandemic-related online editions; six groups performed. In 2024, the 35th edition included a competition for traditional Christmas ornaments. The two editions can be compared through these different program highlights: group performances were the focus in 2023, while the Christmas ornament competition featured in 2024. Together with the event’s annual organization, these details offer a glimpse into the local event tradition without presuming the dates of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Kamesznica, Glinka, Lodygowice, Tresna, Bierna, Okrajnik, Ujsoly, Wieprz

For the regional travel overview: Żywiec.