Green Velo

A black connecting bike trail, running through the western suburbs of the city of Kielce. It connects trails heading for Piekoszów from the vicinity of Dobromyśl and Karczówka with Zalesie, located near the Białogon district of Kielce. The route is less than 5 kilometres long and runs along local asphalt and dirt roads.

The trail starts in the locality of Dobromyśl, by the bridge over the Bobrza River. The red trail runs here, leading towards the locality of Karczówki and the centre of Kielce, and in the opposite direction to the localities of Szczukowice and Piekoszów. On the other side of the Bobrza River valley runs the Green Velo trail. The black trail runs to the south, along the asphalt road to the bottom of the Bobrza River. These are suburban areas, sparsely built-up and quite wooded. There are several beautiful, monumental trees along the trail. After a few kilometres, the trail crosses the railway tracks and ends in Zalesie, a village near Kielce’s Białogon district. The last section of the trail runs along the edge of the hill, slightly uphill.

The history of this part of the city is interesting and little known. Located on the Bobrza River, the settlement has gained industrial significance since the 17th century. Industrialization was fuelled by the availability of metal ores extracted from the surrounding hills and access to hydropower generated by the Bobrza River flowing in the ravine. Copper and lead smelters were built first, then they were followed by a cast iron foundry. In the early 19^th century, an industrial housing estate was constructed. Its star layout has been preserved to date and is under protection. In the centre of the former settlement stands a wooden church of the Transfiguration of our Lord dating back to the early 20^th century, in a style similar to that of the Zakopane temples on which it was modelled. It was not until the 1960s that the Białogon district was incorporated into the city of Kielce. To date the industrial plants are still operational, continuing the centuries-old tradition.

In the locality of Zalesie, the route intersects the red trail. From here, you can continue cycling towards Chęciny, Miedzianka Mountain or Jaskinia Raj or return to the city of Kielce, for example by the bike trail leading from Mount Pierścienica to the south from the Sitkówka railway station.

Points of interest along the trail:

1. Białogon - industrial district
2. Bobrza Valley - protected area, trees - natural monuments

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.

Starting point:

Dobromyśl, crossroads with the red trail

Finishing point:

Zalesie, intersection with the red trail