The study presents the results of phytosociological studies of a plant community with Gentiana cruciata. The investigations were conducted in Kołaczyce, Wisłoka River valley (Strzyżowskie Foothills) in an area of 2000 m2. The study consisted in taking 22 phytosociological relevés, i.e. 2 relevés were taken in 1982 and 20 relevés in 2013, with the Braun-Blanquet method. The species population size was estimated at 2712 generative shoots. Gentiana cruciata grew in a community from the class Festuco-Brometea characterised by high floristic diversity and high species richness (H´ = 3.24). The entire community comprised 91 species (82 species of vascular plants and 9 species of mosses), whereas 29-56 species (on average 45) were recorded in the relevés. The most numerous plants represented the class Festuco-Brometea (27 species) and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea (22 species). The highest abundance and constancy were exhibited by Centaurea scabiosa, Thymus pulegioides, Euphorbia cyparissias, Carex caryophyllea, and Gentiana cruciata from the class Festuco-Brometea as well as Origanum vulgare and Galium verum from the class Trifolio-Geranietea. The high natural value of the locality is indicated by the presence of protected species (Gentiana cruciata, Gentianella ciliata, Orobanche kochii) and rare species in the Carpathians (Thlaspi perfoliatum, Salvia verticillata, Carlina vulgaris, Brachypodium pinnatum, Viola hirta, Potentilla pusilla). After 30 years, the dry grassland with Gentiana cruciata is well preserved although it has been abandoned for 18 years. The appearance of shrubs (Prunus spinosa, Cornus sanguinea) indicates progressive secondary succession, which will lead in time to the development scrubs from the class Rhamno-Prunetea. Therefore, preservation of the area requires active protection measures.