Shrine on Foksowa Kępa in Radziechowy

The shrine on Foksowa Kępa, also known as “Na Horolnej”, is a brick shrine from 1868 in Radziechowy. It stands on a rise right by the road from Żywiec to Zwardoń, about a kilometre past the turn-off to the village, and is dedicated to Our Lady of Częstochowa.

Who funded it and why here

The founder was Maciej Foksa, a farmer and bricklayer. According to local legend, the shrine was placed where in 1656, during the Swedish Deluge, highlanders are said to have fought a battle with the Swedes. There was also a small spring by the shrine.

The building

The shrine has a rectangular plan with an apse and a gabled roof, originally covered with shingles, today with sheet metal. The original barrel vault was replaced with a reinforced-concrete one. The arched windows are protected by grilles made by Wawrzyniec Ficoń of Cięcina. In the apse stands a small altar with two small columns, funded by Maciej Foksa, and inside is a figure of Jesus falling, of the same type as the one in the first shrine, founded in 1829.

The fate of the shrine

During the Second World War German troops dug trenches near the shrine. The figure of Christ was damaged by Soviet troops and repaired by Ludwik Kliś. A renovation was carried out in 1981 on the initiative of the Radziechowy parish priest, in 1984 the figure and the small altar were restored, and in 1988 a copy of the painting of Our Lady of Częstochowa and several items of furnishing were stolen. Not far away stands the Golgotha of the Beskids.

Practical information

• Location: Radziechowy, by the Żywiec - Zwardoń road.
• The shrine stands by a busy road, so park with care. Whether the interior is open, check on the spot.