Green Velo

The orange 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 5, and it departs from Narol to the villages of Łówcza and Ruda Różaniecka, using only roads with little traffic. The route has about 30 kilometres and is typically recreational in nature, however, due to sandy stretches mountain bikes are recommended.  Along the way, you’ll see a historic Orthodox church in Łówcza and a complex of fish ponds in Ruda Różaniecka. 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) - Płazów (12.6 km) - Ruda Różaniecka (16.9 km) - Narol (29.8 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.  From Łówcza, the trail turns west and takes paved roads through extensive forests, as it heads for Ruda Różaniecka, passing the village of Płazów along the way. Ruda Różaniecka is surrounded by fish ponds. In the past, this was the site of open-cast mining workings where iron ore was being extracted and later smelted in small steel mills. In the centre of the locality, there is an old manor house and a park.  For about 2 km, the trail goes between fish ponds using a road on which you need to watch out for fast moving cars. The route then continues to Narol using a very pleasant, paved road through the forest. That road is off limits for car traffic and does not require too much effort on the cyclist’s part. Along the way, you will pass by the “Bukowy Las” reserve (“Beech Forest”), protecting a natural fragment of the Carpathian Forest. The trip concludes on the market square in Narol.

Points of interest along the trail:

1. Narol - market square, religious monuments
2. Łówcza: Orthodox church, cemetery, shrine, remnants of a manor house
3. Ruda Różaniecka: fish ponds, palace
4. “Bukowy Las” nature reserve.

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