Green Velo

The yellow bike trail around Raków is one of the routes marked out around this place. It has a length of just over 30 kilometres. It leads from this town, with interesting sights and history, around the Chańcza artificial lake to the town of Szydłów. The town has one of the best preserved defensive walls in Poland. The route is picturesque and marked out interestingly, running through hilly terrain and on quite good roads, with short sections of inferior dirt roads. It is suitable for a longer trip of a recreational nature.

The general route of the trail is as follows: Raków, centre (0.0 km) - Chańcza artificial lake (4.0 km) - the village of Chańcza (6.1 km) - dam (8.7 km) - Korytnica - (10.6 km) - Szydłów (16.0 km) - Brzeziny (20.5 km) - Potok (24.5 km) - Raków, centre (32.6 km).

The trail starts at the market square in Raków. This is one of the most interesting places in the Świętokrzyskie Province. From the beginning of its existence, the city was associated with Arianism, i.e. a radical faction of Calvinists formed in 16^th century and existing until the end of the seventeenth century, also called "the Polish Brethren". An Arian church functioned here, and the church building has survived to date. There was also an Arian printing house, and in 1602-1638 there was also the famous Rakowska Academy. Currently, apart from the church, it is worth seeing a late-Baroque Holy Trinity parish church in the town of Raków. One of the rest areas of the Green Velo trail is at the market square. You can see here an old well and a fountain with sculptures of crustaceans referring to the name of the town.

The route runs along Klasztorna street and then along the road heading for Staszów. One kilometre behind the roundabout, the trail turns into the forest and runs along a dirt road to the Chańcza artificial lake. This name should not be confused with the Hańcza lake in the Suwałki region, also lying on a Green Velo trail. The largest water reservoir in the entire Świętokrzyskie Province, with an area of ​​340 hectares, is the perfect base for water sports and recreation.

Then the trail runs through the village of Chańcza, over the dam, near numerous tourist facilities, bathing beaches, water equipment rentals, etc. It is a great place for relaxation by the water. The route runs along the road on the dam, then through the village of Korytnica leads, climbing the hills, to the village of Szydłów.

This is definitely the most interesting place in the area. It is distinguished primarily by monumental, perfectly preserved, Medieval city walls. About 700 meters of walls with the Krakowska Gate, one of the former three city gates, have survived to our times. The royal castle dating back to the 14^th century and a part of the city's fortifications have also partially survived. It is also worth seeing the religious monuments here; Gothic churches and a Renaissance synagogue, now housing a small Jewish museum.

From the village of Szydłów, the trail runs northwards, through hills, fields and forests and a few localities back to Raków.

Points of interest along the trail:                 

1. Raków - market square, Arian monuments, religious monuments
2. The Chańcza artificial lake - dam, bathing beach
3. Szydłów - city walls, castle, synagogue, religious monuments
4. Views - extensive panorama of the southern edge of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains

The entire trail is suitable for bicycles with panniers/bike trailers. The trail runs separately from the road traffic, only safe cycling through public roads, separate bike trails and roads without road traffic, dirt roads, forest roads and other roads. A trail with special qualities of cultural heritage.

Starting point:

Raków, centre

Finishing point:

Raków, centre