Mała Wieś: Chapel and Historic Wooden Buildings

Mała Wieś: Chapel and Wooden Buildings

The architectural heritage of Mała Wieś includes a chapel founded in 1855 and several wooden buildings dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their varied architectural forms and dates give the village’s history a distinctive character. For those looking for a holiday rental, this is a local cultural highlight; the broader cultural and activity themes of the wider destination of Wieliczka offer a separate perspective.

The chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded in 1855 by Wojciech and Apolonia Smęder. The named founders give the building a specific historical connection. House No. 23 is a wooden house dating from 1908. House No. 32 is also wooden and dates from the late 19th century. The farmstead at No. 23 also has a wooden barn from this period. The architectural history thus includes not only houses but also a farm building.

For getting around locally, there is the “Mała Wieś Kapliczka” stop on road 2038K. The stop’s name may help when searching for timetables; check the appropriate connection for your travel dates.

Culture and activities in the wider destination of Wieliczka

The wider destination of Wieliczka offers more themes relating to the history of salt and historic buildings. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines.” The underground Miners’ Route includes 7 to 14 extraction chambers in the rugged workings around the oldest surviving Regis Shaft and is up to two kilometres long. The archaeological exhibition at Zamek Żupny traces the development of salt production from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages. On 8 September 2026, Zamek Żupny and its courtyard were closed for renovation work; the work was expected to continue until the end of 2028. Check the latest information before visiting.

The churches in the Wieliczka destination illustrate different periods of construction. The wooden Church of St. Sebastian in Wieliczka was built in 1582 and contains Renaissance paintings. The parish Church of St. Clement was built in 1381 with funds donated by the townspeople; it preserves architectural elements from the 13th and 14th centuries. The Franciscan Church and Franciscan monastery in Wieliczka were the first stone church of the Lesser Poland Reformed Province; they were built in the first half of the 17th century. The parish Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Grabie dates from 1742. It contains a Gothic stone baptismal font from the 15th century.

Other historic sites add to this chronological overview: the Jewish historic cemetery in Wieliczka dates from the 18th century. In Siercza, the Ursuline convent is housed in a former Lubomirski palace dating from around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. In Raciborsko, remnants of a former manor farm complex have been preserved, including a granary.

Routes and trip planning

The routes in the wider destination of Wieliczka also vary in their course and use. The yellow trail is a hiking and cycling route between Wieliczka and Dobczyce. The red cycling trail forms a 27-kilometre loop through Wieliczka and Siercza. The “Las i stawy na Grabówkach” ecological area lies along the hiking and cycling route from Wieliczka. This gives you a choice between a route connecting two places and a described circular tour. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Siercza has a riding stable that offers horse riding with an instructor. Check current availability before planning this activity. A municipal transport overview dated 19 January 2024 listed metropolitan buses between Wieliczka and Kraków. As routes and service arrangements may change, check the connection for your travel dates.

When choosing a holiday rental, you can distinguish Mała Wieś’s local architectural heritage from the cultural and activity themes of the wider destination of Wieliczka. Base your search on the places and activities you actually plan to visit; for routes, horse riding and bus connections, it is worth checking the latest information.

Discover more destinations: Niepołomice, Kokotów, Zakrzów, Brzegi, Węgrzce Wielkie, Koźmice Wielkie, Kłaj, Przebieczany.

Back to the broader travel guide: Wieliczka.