Green Velo

Spanning less than 30 km, the entire trail passes through the commune of Strawczyn, north-west of Kielce. It mostly goes along asphalt roads over slightly undulating terrain, although the second part has a bigger variety of surfaces, with unpaved roads and also several ascents and descents that require considerable effort and careful attention. That stretch leads through the picturesque hilly areas of the Suchedniowsko-Oblęgorski Landscape Park. There are several rest areas available along the way, while the most interesting cultural attraction on the route is the Henryk Sienkiewicz Palace in Oblęgorek.

Oblęgorek (0.0 km) → Chełmce (3.9 km) → Promnik (9.9 km) → Strawczyn (12.9 km) → Ruda Strawczyńska (17.7 km) → Kuźniaki (19.6 km) → Hucisko (22.8 km) → Oblęgór (27.1 km) → Oblęgorek (29.2 km)

• Lenght: 29.2 km
• Time: 3 hours (5 hours with sightseeing)
• Type: Cross, MTB
• 74% asphalt roads, 9% gravel roads, 17% unpaved roads
• Moderately difficult
• Marking sufficient; yellow bike trail

Getting there and starting out

The trail starts in Oblęgorek at the intersection of ul. Gimnazjalna and al. Lipowa, where the latter leads to the Palace of Henryk Sienkiewicz. You can leave your car in the nearby car park, where you’ll also find an MOR (Miejsce Obsługi Rowerzystów – Cyclist Service Point) on the Green Velo route.

Technical description

Take al. Lipowa towards the palace and go around the surrounding park. At the beginning of the village of Chełmce, cross voivodeship road no. 748. The road rises gently as you pass through the village, and you’ll see a defensive manor house on the left-hand side and a church on a hill about 250 m off the route. Next comes a descent and a long straight stretch to the village of Promnik, where you will see a picnic area by a pond, complete with a shelter, benches and a campfire. In the nearby park, there are the ruins of a manor from the second half of the 18^th century. After going along local asphalt roads, you will reach Strawczyn. Pass the church and the rest area with a shelter and a playground. At the intersection with the voivodeship road, a black connecting trail goes off to the left, leading to Stefan Żeromski’s birthplace. Nearby is the reservoir in Strawczyn, with a beach and some shelters where you can rest. The black connecting route begins at the next intersection. Taking it will cut the length of the trip down to approximately 20 km. The yellow trail, meanwhile, turns to the left, with a gravel road that gradually becomes a dirt path. It’s a good idea to stop near the small lake which has a viewing tower next to it. The forest section of the route ends as you come to the first buildings of Ruda Strawczyńska. In Kuźniaki, you’ll go past the ruins of a blast furnace as you embark on the hilly section of this trip, which traverses the slopes of the Oblęgorskie Range. On top of Perzowa Mountain is a grotto of St. Rosalia. The surrounding forests are protected in the nature reserve of the same name. As you keep heading east, every now and then vast views towards the south will open out. In Oblęgóra, the black connecting trail leads to a viewing platform on the slope of Siniewska Mountain (1.3 km from the yellow trail, with a very steep ascent). On the way to Oblęgorek, you will still get the chance to rest at a pleasant rest area with benches and a cased spring. The loop is completed when you end the ride in Oblęgorek.

Attractions along the way:

Henryk Sienkiewicz Palace in Oblęgorek

Given to Henryk Sienkiewicz in 1900 to mark the 25^th anniversary of his work as a writer, the palace was used as the author’s summer residence between 1902 and 1914.

After the Second World War, the Noble Prize winner’s children subsequently passed the building over to the state, with a museum being opened in 1958 that contains mostly original pieces, supplemented with reproductions. The palace is surrounded by a park with an ancient tree stand.

Aleja Lipowa 24, tel. +48 41 303 04 26, +48 664 384 069, www.mnki.pl/sienkiewicz

Oblęgorek also has an educational nature trail beginning between al. Lipowa and the school.

Defensive manor house and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Nicholas in Chełmce

This manor house with thick stone walls dates back to the second half of the 16^th century. Once the property of the Ostrogski princes, it is one of the oldest structures of its type in the voivodeship. An interesting feature of the building is the entrance to the upper floors, which was accessible via a drawbridge. These days, the property is privately owned.

The church on the hill was founded in the 17^th century by the Lublin voivode, Jan Tarło; a fact that we are reminded of by the Topór coat-of-arms visible on the vaulting of the northern chapel and above the presbytery. It is likely that the Baroque interior comes from a church in Chęciny.

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Strawczyn

This Baroque church was built in the 17^th century, and then remodelled in the 19^th century. The main altar features a precious image of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dating back to the time when the church was first erected. About 700 m from the church, along the voivodeship road, there is an obelisk commemorating the birthplace of Stefan Żeromski.

Blast furnace ruins in Kuźniaki

The site of one of the numerous blast furnace complexes that existed in the region in the 18^th century. The Kuźniaki plant was active until 1897, producing iron for handrails, crosses and grates, among other things. The ruins of the blast furnace have survived to this day but it is important to note that they are on private property.

Viewing platform on Siniewska Mountain

Siniewska Mountain (449 m above sea level) is the highest elevation of the Oblęgorskie Range, with a viewing platform that offers spectacular views of Strawczyn Vale and the Świętokrzyskie Mountains near Chęciny and Kielce. Next to the platform is a shelter with benches, as well as a campfire pit and a bike rack.