Green Velo

The blue trail in the Narol Municipality is one of six bike loops you can choose from in the area of this locality. This one is number 4, and it departs from Narol to the village of Łówcza via Huta Złomy and returns to Narol, using only roads with little traffic. The route spans less than 20 kilometres and is typically recreational in nature, however, due to sandy stretches mountain bikes are recommended.

 Along the way, you will see a historic Orthodox church in Łówcza, nice views of the Roztocze hills, many shrines, cemeteries and roadside crosses. The marking follows the standard of the PTTK (Polish Tourism and Sightseeing Society) and takes the form of metal plates nailed to tree trunks.

The general course of the trail is as follows: Narol, market square (0.0 km) - Łówcza (7.4 km) - Huta Złomy (12.1 km) - Narol (19.0 km).

The route begins in Narol, in the market square. The Town Hall is close by, and a little further and off the trail, there are two other interesting buildings: an Orthodox church and the Łosiów Palace. You can visit them or leave that for another trip, but seeing them is a must.  From Narol, the trail heads to the south, via the village of Krupiec. A restored Orthodox church is here, adapted as a venue for concerts and exhibitions. Next, the trail passes through a heavily wooded area. The climb before Łówcza, rather long but not too steep, can pose a slight difficulty. The road surface here is of poor quality, which makes the climb more arduous. The reward for the effort consists in pretty views of the pristine, dense forest. The next part of the trip is a ride through farmland. The dirt roads are quite sandy and this can make life difficult for even for seasoned cyclists. Before the village of Łówcza, on the west side of the route, there is a small stream, which disappears in one place as a result of karst phenomena. There is also a small shrine here.  In the village of Łówcza, you can see an old wooden Orthodox church. Despite the poor state it’s in, it is one of the most important churches preserved in this area. Nearby, there is a cemetery with numerous stone crosses manufactured in Brusno. You can also visit an old park which once used to surround a manor house.  The fragment of the trail between Łówcza and Huta Złomy goes together with the Trail of Icons (Szlak Ikon). At this point on the trail, crossing an open area without trees, you are on quite an elevation. This gives you the opportunity to admire the picturesque areas surrounding the Municipality of Narol, with a vista of Wielki Dział – the highest peak in Roztocze.  In Huta Złomy, the route meets the Green Velo trail. There is a small chapel here and a place where you can rest. Between 1939 and 1941, the border between Nazi Germany and Soviet Union was just near here. The remnants of the Soviet “fortified regions of the new state border”, more commonly known as the Molotov Line, can be still found here. On the Wielki Dział hill, you can see a shelter complete with a cloche. It came from the pre-war Polish fortifications in the eastern region, where it was disassembled and used again by the Soviets. To the east of Huta Złomy, in the wild reaches of the forest, you may find the “Devil’s stone” and the mysterious ruins of a monastery at the top of Monastyr Hill. These are just some of the numerous historic and natural curiosities preserved in the area. The route heads further to the north, together with a Green Velo trail, surrounded by rural buildings and fields. The hill called Trzy Kopce, dominating over the village of Dębiny, has an interesting legend associated with it. Past the village of Jędrzejówka, there is a memorial site from the 1915 cholera epidemic, whose victims were buried in this cholera pit. In the town of Lipsko, which lies near Narol, you may want to check out the local museum organised by local tradition and history enthusiasts, located in the Municipal Museum Chamber (Gminna Izba Pamiątek), located opposite the church.

Points of interest along the trail:

1. Narol - market square, religious monuments
2. Krupiec - restored Orthodox church,
3. Landscapes of Roztocze, numerous shrines and roadside crosses
4. Łówcza - wooden Orthodox church, old cemetery, remnants of a manor house and a park
5. Chapel and a spring before Łówcza
6. Huta-Złomy - chapel, “Źródła Tanwi” reserve
7. Dębiny, cholera pit

The entire trail is suitable for bicycles with panniers/bike trailers. The trail uses solely roads with no motor vehicle traffic allowed or local roads with a low and very low vehicle traffic; no dangerous intersections. The trail is especially recommended for families with children and bike trailers for kids. Recreational character.

Starting point:

Narol, market square

Finishing point:

Narol, market square