The venerated icon of the Mother of God, known as the 'Lady of Rychwałd,' was crowned with papal crowns in 1965.
The sanctuary was elevated to the status of a Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
The painting of the Virgin Mary was originally a gift from the Kurozwęcki family in 1472.
The church architecture transitioned from a timber structure in the 16th century to the current brick Baroque edifice in the 1730s.
The Franciscan friars have been the custodians of the sanctuary since 1946.
Sanktuarium Matki Bożej Rychwałdzkiej is a Minor Basilica located in Rychwałd, administered by the Conventual Franciscan Order. It is renowned for a 15th-century Byzantine-style icon of the Mother of God, which is the site's primary focal point for pilgrims. The current church building dates back to the 18th century, featuring a Baroque interior architecture. The site serves as a sanctuary under the Diocese of Bielsko-Żywiec and maintains a complex that includes a monastery and a Calvary path. It remains an active religious site holding regional significance for the Żywiec Beskids area.
The main altar framing the crowned icon or the exterior facade from the courtyard entrance.
Walk the Calvary path located in the surrounding area for a quiet trail through the forest.
Check the local parish calendar for dates of major pilgrimages and indulgences, which can be very crowded.
Visit the small regional museum or souvenir area run by the friars for locally sourced religious items.
Do not take photographs inside the church during ongoing liturgical services.
The basilica remains open year-round, though the Calvary grounds may be less accessible during heavy snowfall.
Maintain silence inside the basilica; modest attire covering shoulders and knees is expected.
