Góra Kalwaria – the city was conferred civic rights in 1670. It is characteristic for its very interesting urban development, one of the most original patterns in the region of Masovia. Góra Kalwaria was founded by Stefan Wierzbowski, the Bishop of Poznań, who decided to establish a new pilgrimage centre, in accordance with the Counter-Reformation ideas. The city was founded in the site of the old village called Góra. Bishop Wierzbowski established Nowa Jerozolima (New Jerusalem), as the town was called, according to the Latin cross plan, following the patterns that referred to the urban development of Jerusalem, which were very popular in the 17th century. At the foot of the cross, the artificial hill was raised (currently: the parish cemetery). The street called Kalwaryjska, including the town square, along which the Stations of the Cross used to be situated, mark the vertical axis of the cross. Two streets currently named Pijarska and Dominikańska mark the horizontal axis of the cross.
Church of the Feast of the Cross – erected in the second half of the 17th century, in the crossing place of the two axes that marked the urban development arrangement of Nowa Jerozolima; so-called the Pilate’s Chapel (Hall). It was the central site around which the town was developed. Reconstructed according to the late Baroque style in 1791. Inside the church, visitors can admire a precious wax Pietà created in the 16th century. In the vault under the altar, Bishop Stefan Wierzbowski, the founder of Góra Kalwaria, is buried. Today, it functions as a filial church. In front of the church, there is a Baroque statue of Christ titled “Ecce Homo” of the 17th century.
Monastery complex (formerly: St Bernardine Monastery) –
late-Baroque complex of monastery buildings constructed according to the design by Jakub Fontana and funded by Grand Crown Marshal Franciszek Bieliński in the middle of the 18th century. Until 1864, the monastery belonged to the St Bernardine Order. Since 1952, it has been the property of the Congregation of Marian Fathers. The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary has particularly interesting objects and decorations, including a Rococo pulpit (the second half of the 18th century) and a Baroque tomb of St Valerian made of black marble in the end of the 18th century. In the vault of the church, Franciszek Bieliński, the founder of the church, is buried. On the pillars of the gate in front of the church, there are four Baroque sculptures of the second half of the 18th century, depicting the saints: Francis of Assisi, Anthony of Padua, John Capistrano and Bernardine of Siena. Currently, the church functions as a parish church.
St Anthony’s Chapel – picturesquely located in the middle of the slope of the Vistula river bank, a Baroque chapel erected in the second half of the 18th century. On the altar, there is a statue depicting St Anthony of Padua, believed to be miraculous, as well as a reliquary. Nearby, there is also a spring, whose water is believed to cure diseases.
Divine Providence Church – so-called the Cenacle, situated in the part of Góra Kalwaria called Marianki. The church was founded by Bishop Wierzbowski in 1674. In the Baroque church interior, there is a painting of Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus of the 17th century and the 18th-century tomb of Father Stanisław Papczyński, the founder of the Congregation of Marian Fathers.
Former Piarist College – founded in 1675 by Bishop Stefan Wierzbowski. In 1819, the buildings were adapted to be used as barracks of the tsar’s army. After its reconstruction in 1841, the college became a house for the old and the disabled. Within the premises of the former college, there is a neo-Gothic church of the Annunciation of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Currently, the college is used as a Social Welfare Institution.
Town Hall – Classicist edifice erected in the years 1829-34 according to the design by Bonifacy Witkowski. Around the town hall, there are former market stalls with arcades designed by Witkowski and constructed in 1836.
Former Court of Peace – also called “the Bishop’s Palace”; large storeyed brick edifice built in the 18th century. In the first half of the 19th century, the building was the seat of the Court of Peace for the District of Czersk.
Former House of Prayer (Beit Hamidrasz) – the house of religious studies of the Alters, a renowned Hasidic family, erected in 1903. Next to the House of Prayers, there is a former tzadik’s mansion of 1859.
Former synagogue – erected in 1903, in the site of an older synagogue. Currently, the building is a shop.
Parish cemetery – established in 1797 on a hill, after pulling down the Church of the Holy Cross. The oldest tombs are dated at the 19th century; these are tombs of Rev. Mateusz Jasiński (died 1847), Zofia z Zaborowskich Kicińska (died 1890), Katarzyna Stańczyk (died 1888), Antoni Kalański (died 1880), Second Lieutenant Count Dybicz from the Baikal Infantry Regiment (died 1884), Albin Jarosiński (died 1890). There is also a tomb of Polish soldiers killed during the defence of Poland in 1939.
Jewish cemetery – the first mention of the establishment of the cemetery is dated at 1827. The Jewish community obtained the rights of ownership in 1864. The cemetery was devastated during World War II. The remaining tombstones or their pieces (about 100 tombstones or their pieces have been preserved until today) have been arranged in the eastern section of the cemetery. There is also a sandstone tomb of tzadik Yitzchak Meir Rothenberg Alter (died 1866). The tomb was reconstructed in 1991.
Cemetery of the Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession – established in the 19th century and used until World War II. The oldest tombs are dated at the 19th century. Devastated and deteriorated after the war.
Projekt, wykonanie - Mariusz Kleć: Polsko - Japońska Wyższa Szkoła Technik Komputerowych w Warszawie