Source of the cemetery description:


"A certain Jan Peksa gave this land to the Church, and it is known as Peksowy Brzyszek, 'Peksa's brook' after the small stream that runs beside the cemetery. It's a very intimate place, encircled by a stone wall, and you will find the entrance just behind St.Clement's.

The Old Graveyard is plumed with birch trees, and a narrow path winds its way through the centre. The tombs themselves are very unusual. Many are crafted from gnarled blocks of wood. It is as if a magician has cast a spell on a host of tree stumps, and the sorry things has been transformed into enchanted folkloric sculptures.

Many great figures from the arts are buried here, as well as numerous gorale heroes. However, you don't need to be aware of who's who to feel the magic of the place. The graveyard casts its spell as much through the craftsmanship of the memorials as through the associations with those who were laid to rest here.

All kinds of flourishes can be found - stout wooden crosses that are enlivened by florid carving, dreamy sculptures of Christ or the Virgin, bulbous clusters of rocks that turn out to be actual graves. The whole ensemble seems to have grown organically out of the ground, and thus it could not be further removed from the cold, rigid geometry of so many Western graveyards - it's a distinctly undepressing place. Of course, it is highly likely that the graveyard is inhabited by many ancient gnome dynasties, but the gnomes are modest fellows and one only sees them if one is lucky."