Green Velo

The excursion will help you to learn more about the most interesting engineering monument - the Augustów Canal, built between 1824-1828, as a result of the customs war between the Kingdom of Prussia and the Kingdom of Poland and Russia. The route winds along the shores of three lakes that are part of the Augustów Canal. Along the way, you can see the structures of three water locks (Augustów, Przewięź, Swoboda) and the weir (near the Swoboda lock). The history of this listed monument is presented in the Augustów Canal Museum, on the route, just in front of the Augustów lock.

The route starts in the centre of Augustów, under the column of King Sigismund Augustus – the founder of the city. The centre includes a few noteworthy landmarks located on the route. Away from ul. Mostowa towards the boulevard, on the left, is the monument of the Accursed Soldiers. After a few minutes, you pass by the town beach, the amphitheatre, the electric water ski lift and the former Biała Góra Hotel. Then, you reach Klonownica - the shortest navigable river in Poland. Nearby you turn right, along the blue trail. When driving right by the shore of Białe Lake, you can stray from the trail, heading to the lake.

In the Przewięź village, there is the former raft building station, now a beach and camping, Patelnia, with a perfect view of the lake. From there you can also see a Przewięź lock, which is just a short driving distance away. The next point is the Water Lock Swoboda. A longer stop is recommended in Studzieniczna. Worth taking a detour is the Sculpture in the Forest Trail, with a peek into the Centre for Forest Education and the nature trail leading to the Forester Monument.

Route:

• Zygmunt August Market Square (centre of Augustów, 0.0 km)
• Klonownica (4.5 km)
• Przewięź (12.5 km)
• water lock Swoboda (17.5 km)
• Studzieniczna (21.5 km)
• Wojciech (23.0 km)
• Zygmunt August Market Square (31.9 km)

Route options:
In the Studzieniczna village, the route can be extended by the so-called small loop of the White Eagle Trail near the Sajno lake. This will make the excursion longer by 12 km. The route is not demanding physically demanding.

Surface:

• Asphalt roads and bike paths: approx. 40%
• Dirt roads: approx. 60%

The route is marked according to the PTTK marking standard for tourist cycling trails:

• To water lock Swoboda: blue trail approx. 1 km behind the lock: The International Cycling Route R11 - green trail, and Green Velo
• Studzieniczna - ul. Turystyczna: the White Eagle Trail
• ul. Wyszyńskiego: Green Velo

Tourist attractions on the route:

• Augustów – interesting landmarks along the route are, subsequently: the sawmill, timber houses of the sawmill workers, the railway station, the White House, the former garrison Orthodox church, Augustów Canal Museum, the Augustów lock, the Old Post Office and the basilica. By the lake there is an electric water ski lift.
• Biała Góra – the former hotel designed by Maciej Nowicki, now the Hetman inn.
• Przewięź – the former raft station, where the wood was stored to be later transported to the sawmill in Augustów, now the beach and camping Patelnia.
• Water Lock Przewięź – one of the most crowded locks. Ships, catamarans, kayaks or gondolas pass through here on their way from Augustów to Studzieniczna, so there is a good opportunity to watch them from there.
• Water Lock Swoboda – one of 18 built along the entire Canal (now 14 locks are within Polish borders). It was destroyed during the war, so the present day gate looks different from the original. Worth pointing out are the wooden buildings for the lock operator.
• Studzieniczna – Sanctuary of Our Lady, the history of which dates back to the eighteenth century.