Green Velo

The trail allows you to admire the richness of nature and picturesquely integrated remembrance sites and places of religious cult. In Gabowe Grądy, you can see the prayer house (molenna) and the cemetery of the Old Believers. Because of the presence of wetlands, local villages are often visited by storks. It is also worth riding off the trail in Rzepiski to arrive at the Lake Kolno Reserve, where a magnificent view spreads out from the platform. Information boards on the White Eagle Trail give some information about the secrets and the history of the Augustów Forest. The trip starts beside the Old Post Office in Augustów, which was built on the basis of Henryk Marconi’s design in the 1^st half of the 19^th century. The trail leads farther through boulevards on the Augustów Canal towards Białobrzegi, where it connects with the Green Velo Trail. Not far from it, on the left, there is a sluice and a former water mill on the Netta, which is currently occupied by a restaurant. Past the mill, follow the red trail towards Bór and Gabowe Grądy – villages inhabited by the Old Believers. It is worth noticing wooden buildings in both villages, as well as the prayer house (molenna), which was reconstructed after the war, and the cemetery in Gabowe Grądy. The trail leads farther along forest trails to Rzepiski, passing the Lake Kolno Reserve located around 1 km away from the road, which was established in order to protect habitats of waterfowl, particularly the mute swan. A viewing tower stands beside the reserve. Because of the presence of wetlands, local villages are often visited by storks. One of the villages on the trail – Kolnica – is regarded as the kingdom of the white stork. Riding through the village, it is worth noticing a church with an unusual structure, wooden houses and roadside crosses. In the Odpadek village, the trail turns into the forest towards Lake Sajno, then it connects with the Green Velo Trail and around 3 km farther with the White Eagle Trail. In the nearby area, there is Wirski’s Bunker – a reconstructed guerrilla dugout from the period of World War II. The site is marked. You can visit it upon prior arrangement with the Augustów Forest Inspectorate. The trail runs farther towards the provincial road no. 664 leading to Augustów. On the left side of the roadway there is a popular beach on Lake Sajno. In Augustów, ride off the Green Velo Trail towards the boulevards and reach ul. 29 Listopada and the Augustów Sluice along the Augustów Canal. Not far from them, there is the Museum of the Augustów Canal on the right and a park beside the Old Post Office on the left.

Course of the trail:

• Augustów – 0 km
• Białobrzegi – 5 km
• Gabowe Grądy – 5 km
• Rzepiski – 17 km
• Kolnica – 19 km
• Sajenek – 27 km
• Augustów – 5 km

Surface and marking of the trail:

One half of the trail runs on asphalt roads and cycling paths, and the other half consists of unsurfaced roads. The trail leads along marked cycling trails: the green trail from Augustów to Białobrzegi (international trail R11), the red trail from Białobrzegi to Lake Sajno, and the trail that is initially yellow and then connects with the White Eagle Trail on Lake Sajno. The Green Velo Trail leads from Sajenek to Augustów.

Attractions on the trail:

• Sluice and the former water mill on the Netta in Białobrzegi
• Historic sites and attractions of Augustów
• Prayer-house (molenna) in Gabowe Grądy
• Cemetery in Gabowe Grądy
• Kolno Lake Reserve
• Wirski’s Bunker near Odpadek

Tourist Information Centre in Augustów, Rynek Zygmunta Augusta 44, 16-300 Augustów, phone 87 64 32 883, it@augustow.eu, www.augustow.pl