Approximate driving time with sightseeingThis loop will take you through the picturesque terrain of the Sandomierz Upland in the valley of the Koprzywianka River. With asphalt roads along the entire route, the trail offers a variety of scenery for you to enjoy as you pass the many orchards, fields and meadows, and visit small forest complexes. The main points of interest along the way include the churches in Sulisławice, Koprzywnica and Klimontów.
Klimontów (0.0 km) → Byszów (5.1 km) → Jachimowice (8.0 km) → Sośniczany (13.1 km) → Błonie (15.8 km) → Koprzywnica (18.5 km) → Sulisławice (25.8 km) → Bukowa (29.6 km) → Wiązownica Kolonia (33.1 km) → Smerdyna (37.6 km) → Jurkowice (43.3 km) → Nawodzice (48.2 km) → Szymanowice Dolne (49.7 km) → Klimontów (52.5 km)
- Lenght: 52.5 km
- Time: 5 hours (8 hours with sightseeing)
- Type: Touring, road
- Elevation: 320 m
- 100% asphalt roads
- Moderately difficult
- Half of the route is well marked with signs for the Green Velo route, the Way of St. James, and a green bike trail; the other half is on local roads with no markings
Getting there and starting out
When arriving by car, a convenient place to begin the trip is the area around the market square in Klimontów.
Technical description
From Klimontów market square, head east following the Green Velo signs. As you leave the town, you’ll pass a synagogue and the route then continues along voivodeship road no. 758, which has a poor quality surface. Fortunately, there is little traffic on it. After 9 km, past the village of Jachimowice, turn off the main road onto a narrow asphalt road passing through some orchards. Staying on the Green Velo route, cross national road no. 79 to get to a small intersection past the bridge over the Koprzywianka River. Here, you leave the Green Velo route behind and start to follow the signs for the green bike trail heading towards Koprzywnica. Along the way, you will pass some interesting historic shrines from the last century before reaching the Post-Cistercian Church of St. Florian. Cross national road no. 79 again and turn left after 50 m onto a narrow asphalt road, still following the green bike trail. Continue on for a few more kilometres, going partly through a forest and passing roadside crosses and shrines. After crossing national road no. 7, you will arrive in Sulisławice, which is famous for its Marian sanctuary. There are two churches worth a visit here: an old one from the first half of the 13th century and a newer one built between 1871 and 1888. After that, leave the village and head towards Bukowa and Smerdyna. On the way, you can take a short detour to see the palace in Wiązownica if you wish. And then once you get to Smerdyna, another detour will allow you to see some old limestone mines with impressive rock exposures. As you ride on, you’ll pass the active mines in Budy and Jurkowice. Several hundred metres past the mine, turn right onto a narrow asphalt road, and follow it through Żyznów to Nawodzice. Once there, turn left and continue through Szymanowice, passing a large reservoir first, followed by a smaller one, before reaching Klimontów, which marks the end of your 50-kilometre trip.
Attractions along the way:
Klimontów
Klimontów is home to the Collegiate Church of St. Joseph – one of Poland’s most interesting Baroque churches. Construction of the church began in 1643 based on a design by an Italian architect best known under his polonised name, Wawrzyniec Senes. It was finally completed 140 years later. The church is the mausoleum of the Ossoliński family, the founders of both the church and the town of Klimontów. Nearby is a Renaissance Dominican monastery complex dating from the 17th century, as well as the Church of St. Hyacinth, a synagogue from 1851 and the historic market square.
Collegiate Church, ul. Krakowska 4, tel. +48 15 866 15 38
Koprzywnica – Cistercian monastery complex
The monastery complex founded in the 13th century by Mikołaj Bogoria testifies to the presence of Cistercian monks here in the past. They were brought by Bogoria from Morimond Abbey in France. Initially a Romanesque structure with Gothic additions and brick gables, the complex was extended during the Baroque period. Notable features inside include the medieval polychrome paintings, the Gothic rib vault and the Baroque altar.
ul. Krakowska 78, tel. +48 15 847 62 02 (visits after prior arrangement)
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows in Sulisławice
The sanctuary is comprised of the late-Romanesque Church of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary together with a new church in the English neo-Gothic style containing a miraculous image of Our Lady of Sorrows (Misericordia Domini). The older church comes from the second half of the 13th century and has been remodelled several times. The cellars under the church house a small museum dedicated to the “Jędrusie” partisan group.
Sulisławice 91, tel. +48 15 866 93 62, www.sulislawice.pl
Dzięki Palace in Wiązownica
Built in 1841-1844, the palace was commissioned by the senator Vasily Pogodin, who, having become enchanted with the valley of the Kacanka River, decided to build his country residence here. A neo-Gothic structure with elements of oriental architecture, it has been in the hands of its private owner since 1997 and is gradually being renovated. The palace welcomes visitors.
Wiązownica Kolonia 82, tel. +48 609 392 162
