Green Velo

The yellow trail in the Municipality of Cieszanów is a short route, spanning 16 km. It has the shape of a loop around Cieszanów and it is one of four trails laid out in the vicinity of that town. Along the way, you can see some interesting monuments, such as the wooden churches in Gorajec and Kowalówka. The fact that there are no major hills, and the good roads to ride on make it an easy trail, typically recreational in character. Near Cieszanów, you will find preserved wooden and brick Greek Catholic churches and numerous stone crosses manufactured in Brusno. In the summer, the village of Gorajec becomes the venue for events such as the Folkowisko Borderland Culture Festival. The route is well marked and equipped with new places where cyclists can rest.

The general course of the trail is as follows: Cieszanów, “Wędrowiec” recreation complex (0.0 km) - Kosobudy (5.2 km) - Kowalówka (7.2 km) - Gorajec (11.1 km) - Cieszanów, “Wędrowiec” recreation complex (16.2 km).

Cieszanów, in which the trail begins and ends, is a small town with history going back to the 16^th century. It has several religious monuments, including a heavily destroyed synagogue and a Jewish cemetery, a Greek Catholic Church of St. George from 1900, as well as a Roman Catholic church. A typical frontier region urban layout has survived here, with a small market square in the centre. In the eastern part of the town, there is a large recreation complex called “Wędrowiec” (“Wanderer”), offering both leisure facilities and accommodation.  It is near the this complex, on the Brusienka River, that the trail begins. It heads through fields to the north, to the village of Kosobudy, where it takes the provincial road to the east to the village of Kowalówka. In that village, you will find an 18^th century Greek Catholic church, now converted into a Roman Catholic church.  From Kowalówka, the trail continues to go east, to the village of Gorajec. This village, once associated mainly with the bloody events of the Polish-Ukrainian conflict, is now known thanks to the Folkowisko Borderland Culture Festival and other events, organised by local enthusiasts of folk culture. Be sure to see one of the most beautiful and oldest of Greek Catholic churches in Poland, built in the 16^th century. From Gorajec, the trail returns to Cieszanów, closing this loop.

Points of interest along the trail:

1. Cieszanów - religious monuments, urban layout
2. Kowalówka - wooden Greek Catholic church, currently a Roman Catholic church
3. Gorajec - Orthodox church, cemetery, religious monuments, Chutor Gorajec - folklore events

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. Recreational character.

Starting point:

Cieszanów, “Wędrowiec” recreation complex

Finishing point:

Cieszanów, “Wędrowiec” recreation complex