Green Velo

The Ciekoty - Święta Katarzyna bike trail is a cycling route less than 6 kilometres long, signposted in green. It is one of the bike trails marked out by the Kielce-based Polish Society of Tourism and Sightseeing in this area. It runs from Ciekoty, from the Szklany Dom Educational Centre, to Święta Katarzyna, one of the two most popular localities in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains. The trail runs fully on an asphalt road and has a scenic character.

The starting point of the route is in Ciekoty, at the gate of the Szklany Dom Education Centre. It is a local hub for bike trails. Next to the blue route, there is also a blue route to Wola Kopcowa and the Cedzyna artificial lake as well as a yellow one, which runs around the Masłów Range.

In the locality of Ciekoty, Stefan Żeromski, the eulogist of the Świętokrzyskie region, spent his childhood. To commemorate the writer and his work, the "Szklany Dom [Glass House]" was created. It is an educational and cultural institution, organizing exhibitions and various cultural and artistic events. Next to it, a wooden stylized noble manor house, based on the home of Stefan Żeromski, was constructed. There is an exhibition inside dedicated to the writer's life and work.

From the Glass House, the trail runs eastwards towards Mount Łysica rising on the horizon, the highest peak of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, 612 m above sea level. The route slowly climbs, the height difference for the trail is 70 meters. From the trail, you can catch a glimpse of beautiful views of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains.

The route runs to the centre of the village of Święta Katarzyna. This is a starting point for walks to Mount Łysica and to the Świętokrzyski National Park. You can see here the Bernardine monastery complex that has been operating since the 15^th century, and the wooden chapel of St. Francis with a miraculous spring at the road running to Mount Łysica, the Museum of Fossils and Minerals and Żeromski’s Chapel at the cemetery.

Points of interest along the trail:

1. Ciekoty – Żeromski’s manor house, “Glass House’ Education Centre
2. Święta Katarzyna - a monastery, the chapel next to the miraculous spring, a starting point to Mount Łysica and the Świętokrzyski National Park

The entire trail is suitable for bicycles with panniers/bike trailers. The trail runs only on roads without road traffic or on local roads with a low and very low volume of road traffic; no dangerous intersections. A recreational trail.

Starting point:

Ciekoty, “Glass House” Education Centre

Finishing point:

Święta Katarzyna, coach stop