The history of St Margaret’s Church is closely intertwined with the history of Nowy Sącz. Together with the town, it experienced periods of splendour and moments of destruction. The basilica first appears in documents in 1303. Saint Margaret, a maiden and martyr beheaded for her faith in the year 278, was its first patron saint. And this is still the case today. On 14 July – St Margaret’s Day – fairs are held here. The church was built in the Gothic style, with brick and stone walls and a Gothic vaulted ceiling. Chapels were added to the original body over time, while only one tower remained (used as a bell tower The church was richly furnished and decorated. The distinctive statues of Saints Margaret, Catherine, Dorothy and Barbara were placed above the stone portal of the main entrance. The following years left their mark on the basilica’s architecture, the preservation of which was attempted  during the general restoration undertaken to repair the destruction wrought by World War II. Today, St Margaret’s Church in Nowy Sącz has both Gothic and Baroque elements and is decorated with two towers. The main altar contains an image of the Transfiguration, probably dating from the 15th century.

Between 2020 and 2022, St Margaret’s Church in Nowy Sącz underwent comprehensive conservation and restoration as part of the project titled ‘With Architecture Through the Ages – Renovation of Four Historic Churches of the Tarnów Diocese’ co-financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the Małopolska Voivodeship for 2014–2020.