Attraction in Kraków

Church of Saints Peter and Paul

Kraków's first fully Baroque church, on Grodzka Street, known for its apostle statues, a national crypt and the longest Foucault pendulum in Poland.

Reviewed and updated July 2026

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is a Baroque church on Grodzka Street in Kraków's Old Town, built between 1597 and 1619 and the first fully Baroque church in the city. People visit for its Roman-inspired facade lined with statues of the twelve apostles, the longest Foucault pendulum in Poland hanging inside, and a crypt that serves as one of the country's national pantheons.

What to see inside and out

Before you go in, look at the forecourt, where a stone fence carries statues of the twelve apostles. The figures you see today are copies; the originals were carved in 1722 by Dawid Heel and were replaced after acid rain damaged them. The church itself was modelled on the Jesuit mother church in Rome, and its restrained Baroque interior sets the tone for the rest of Grodzka Street.

The Foucault pendulum

Suspended inside is the longest Foucault pendulum in Poland, measuring 46.5 metres. On Thursdays it is set in motion to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth, a physics display you would not expect to find in a 17th-century church. It is a short, memorable stop, and worth timing your visit around if the demonstration interests you.

A national pantheon in the crypt

Below the church lies a crypt that is one of Poland's national pantheons, a resting place for distinguished figures in the country's cultural and public life. This gives the building a significance beyond its architecture, tying it to how Poland remembers people who shaped it. Access and viewing arrangements can vary, so check the church's official channels before you plan around it.

Fitting it into a day in Kraków

The church sits on Grodzka Street, the route that runs between the Main Market Square and Wawel, so it falls naturally into a walk through the Old Town. You can pair it with the neighbouring churches along the same street and reach Wawel Castle within a few minutes on foot. For wider planning, see our Kraków guide.

Good to know

The Foucault pendulum is demonstrated on Thursdays, so plan for that day if you want to see it in motion.

Frequently asked questions

A stone fence around the forecourt carries statues of the twelve apostles. The originals were carved in 1722 by Dawid Heel and have been replaced with copies after acid rain damaged them.

It is the longest Foucault pendulum in Poland at 46.5 metres, hung inside the church and set in motion on Thursdays to demonstrate the Earth's rotation.

It stands on Grodzka Street in Kraków's Old Town, on the walking route between the Main Market Square and Wawel.

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