Green Velo

A moment of reflection in a memorial site for the victims of the Holocaust and the numerous historical monuments of the Greek Catholic Church are the main motivations to visit the towns of Bełżec, Zatyle and Narol. And all of this in the immaculate and beautiful nature surrounding, with a spring in Łukawica where – as some claim – the Tanew River starts its course.

The route of the excursion leads partially through the Lubelskie and partly through the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. On the way, you can explore interesting historical monuments of both voivodeships and incredible nature. The road is not demanding, but it is diverse. Part of the route leads over asphalt through vast farmland, part heads through forests over sandy terrain and packed roads. The excursion starts from the town square in Narol. A steep wooded road at the exit from the town leads directly to a Baroque palace. Go past it and head along the Green Velo trail towards the town of Bełżec. In the village of Podlesina you will turn right, according to the direction of the red cycling trail that leads to Bełżec.

On the way is the town of Chyże, where it is worth stopping by the chapel. Next, you should visit two important attractions on the excursion route: the Greek Catholic church and the Museum - Memorial Site in Bełżec, located on the site of a German extermination camp. Riding along rail tracks, partly down the bike trail Nad Sołokiją, you will pass a viewing point on Łysa Mountain and one of the Molotov Line bunkers. After riding through the town of Zatyle, the last section of the trail is a treat for lovers of nature and ecology. Nearby are the villages of Lubycza Królewska and Dęby. Next you pass by the wooden buildings of Łukawica and expansive marshes. The excursion route ends in the town square of Narol, where, with a bit of luck, you can see a performance by local dance and song ensembles.

Route:

• Narol (0 km)
• Podlesina (7 km)
• Chyże (10 km)
• Bełżec (14 km)
• Zatyle (22 km)
• Łukawica (34 km)
• Narol (39 km)

Surface:

• Local asphalt roads:
• Approx. 85%
• Dirt roads: approx. 15%

Partially marked route:

• Part of the route: Green Velo and red CSR Roztocza
• Section of bike trail Nad Sołokiją
• Łukawica – Narol: section of yellow bike trail
   

Tourist attractions on the route:

• Narol – known as the cosy music capital of Roztocze because of the numerous concerts and festivals that take place here. In the town square there is an arcaded town hall with a tower, and across the square is the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, surrounded by a wall. About a kilometre west from the town centre is the former Greek Catholic church from 1899 (currently a concert and exhibition centre).
• Baroque Łoś Palace – a stately two storey residence surrounded with a beautiful Italian-style garden.
• Chyże – a 19th century chapel of St Anthony.
• Bełżec – a wooden Greek Catholic church from 1756 and the Museum –
• Memorial Site located in the former German extermination camp.
• Zatyle – chapel and monument to the memory of the train passengers murdered by the UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army) in June 1944.
• Lubycza Królewska – a large village on the route from Zamość to Lviv, with many bunkers and anti-tank emplacements of the so-called Molotov Line from 1939–1941. It has long been known for its cultivation of lova.
• Dęby – a village near Lubycza Królewska, known for the first wind turbines in Roztocze, scattered through the farmland.
• Łukawica – the huge marsh past the village is the source of the stream of the same name. The locals claim that it is here that one of the biggest rivers of Roztocze – the Tanew – has its source.