Green Velo

This is one of the most interesting routes when it comes to sightseeing, and it also offers some amazing views. There are plenty of attractive places to see along the way, including the market square and castle in Chęciny, the palace and Leonardo da Vinci Science Centre in Podzamcze Chęcińskie, the nature reserve and museum in Miedzianka, the sanctuary in Piekoszów and the magnificent palace ruins in Podzamcze Piekoszowskie. As you pass through the Chęcińsko-Kielecki Landscape Park, you will go up and down a number of mountain ridges, as well as the deep valleys that lie in between them. The road surface will mostly be asphalt, with short sections on gravel and unpaved roads (approximately 5 km in total), and you should follow the markings for the red bike trail. It should be noted that, due to the high elevations along the entire route (a total gain of over 900 m), it is classed as difficult. However, you can shorten the distance by choosing an alternative way that runs along voivodeship road no. 762. This means there are two possible loops, with lengths of approximately 50 km and 20 km respectively.  

Chęciny (0.0 km) → voivodeship road no. 762 (10.6 km) → Bolmin (13.5km) → Zajączków (19.4 km) → Miedzianka (22.6 km) → Bławatków (24.4 km) → Gałęzice (27.7 km) → Zawada (31.3 km) → Piekoszów (37.1 km) → Podzamcze Piekoszowskie (39.6 km) → Szczukowice (42.2 km) → Jaworznia (45.4 km) → Szewce (48.2 km) → Sitkówka (51.9 km) → voivodeship road no. 762 (55.0 km) → Chęciny (56.8 km)

• 56.8 km
• 6 hours (10 hours with sightseeing)
• Touring, cross
• 595 m
• 87% asphalt roads
• 9% gravel roads
• 3% unpaved roads
• 1% bike paths
• Difficult
• Marking sufficient; red bike trail

Getting there and starting out

For the starting point, we recommend the large free car park at the castle in Chęciny. It’s also very close to a pleasant restaurant with a garden where you can relax after your trip.

Technical description

The ride begins with a pleasant descent to Podzamcze Chęcińskie, where your first stop will be the historic manor house of the Chęciny starostes, which is currently being converted into a hotel, and the Leonardo da Vinci Science Centre. After you ride along the paths of the beautifully renovated park, and then after the gate along the tree-lined avenue (note that there are no red trail markings on this section), you will reach the local road between Starochęciny and Mosty. Turn right and ride through the forest, on the southern side of the Grzywy Korzeczkowskie Range. As you reach the voivodeship road, you can choose a shorter variant of the trip and turn right. If you decide to take the longer option, however, keep going straight ahead. Unfortunately, the lack of an on-ramp for the bike path will force you to take a detour of a few hundred metres. In the village of Bolmin, your attention will be drawn to the newly renovated 17^th century church. After a short descent, the next range to climb will be the Grząby Bolmińskie. From the peak called Wysprzenica (281 m above sea level), there is a panoramic view of the Miedzianka Hills that lie ahead. In order to get there, go through the village of Zajączków. As you go around the Wzgórze Miedzianki Nature Reserve from the south-east, you will come to an interesting place where you can learn more about the mining history of the area. Continue on a dirt path and then an asphalt road along the large, and still active, Ostrówka quarry. There is a shelter in Gałęzice where you can take a break, and also one at the entrance to the village of Zawada, which you get to via a gravel road through the forest. Once there, it means you have reached another range: Zelejowskie. Follow the red bike trail markings north to Piekoszów and you’ll see a monumental church with a miraculous 17^th century painting. The next stop is Podzamcze Piekoszowskie, with its beautiful, albeit neglected, palace ruins. A few hundred metres further on, there is an MOR (Miejsce Obsługi Rowerzystów – Cyclist Service Point) on the Green Velo route, which is a convenient place to relax for a while. From here, you start your return journey, heading south towards Chęciny. Pass through the village of Szczukowice and the Chelosiowa Jama Nature Reserve, and then take the gravel road alongside the S7 expressway as you cut across the Zgórskie Range. Go under the expressway and, after passing the village of Szewce, head towards the forest-covered Miejska Góra hill (332 m above sea level). Go around it from the south-east, partly using a newly built bike path, and then head again towards the S7, which you will need to cross, this time via a flyover. The castle in Chęciny will already be visible from a distance. But before you get there, you will pass through the charming streets of the revitalised town.

Attractions along the way:

Royal Castle in Chęciny

The castle was erected on a rocky hill at the turn of the 14^th century. The eastern part, the so-called upper castle, dates back to that period, whilst the western part, with the characteristic square tower, was built in the 15^th century. In the Middle Ages, the stronghold served as a prison for enemies of the state and as an allowance of the rulers’ wives. The recurring event called “Night in the Castle” is an exciting opportunity to visit the castle at night.

(MPR – Miejsce Przyjazne Rowerzystom; Cyclist-Friendly Place) tel. +48 41 308 00 48, www.zamek.checiny.pl

Regional Science and Technology Centre in Podzamcze Chęcińskie

Regional Science and Technology Centre in Podzamcze

The whole centre consists of a palace-park complex as well as the Leonardo da Vinci Science Centre. The most valuable historical monument here is the restored manor house of the Chęciny starostes, which is a Baroque building built between 1602 and 1617 by Jan Branicki. The historical buildings of the manor house have been adapted for use as a hotel, restaurant and conference centre. Next to the manor is a modern museum building, which presents interactive temporary exhibitions on science and technology. The grounds of the garden contain experimental equipment that you can try out, while there are also walking paths stretching all around the beautifully renovated park.

Podzamcze 45, tel. +48 609 290 121,   www.cndavinci.pl

Ore Mining Museum Chamber in Miedzianka

At the foot of the limestone massif of Miedzianka (365 m above sea level), which is a protected nature reserve, is an old mining building that shows the history of the excavation of copper deposits in the area, as well as the customs of the local miners. In addition to the mineral exhibitions, there is also a collection of beer mugs used at the feast of St. Barbara, the patron saint of miners. 

Miedzianka 1, tel. +48 509 264 662, www.ckis.com.pl

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy in Piekoszów

This 19^th century three-nave church is home to a revered image of Our Lady of Mercy from 1691. In 1705, on the Day of the Ascension of the Lord, people saw tears of blood appear on the painting, a discovery which triggered the growth of a cult and an influx of pilgrims.

ul. Częstochowska 52, tel. +48 41 306 10 16, www.parafiapiekoszow.pl

Palace ruins in Podzamcze Piekoszowskie

A Baroque residence that was built between 1649 and 1655, and modelled on the Palace of the Kraków Bishops in Kielce. It was intended to serve one of the richest magnate families in Poland – the Tarło family, of the Topór coat-of-arms. Its four hexagonal towers flanked an imposing structure, but these towers, just like the rest of the palace, have been in ruins since 1860.

Old Town in Chęciny

There is much more worth seeing in Chęciny than just the castle. This revitalised town also has two market squares, a historic urban layout, and an impressive network of narrow streets. Among the town’s many monuments, the Franciscan monastery founded by Kazimierz the Great in 1368 definitely stands out. On ul. Małogoska, meanwhile, there is an interesting tenement building from 1570, known as Niemczówka, which currently houses a tourist information centre. And on ul. Długa, there is a synagogue dating from the 17^th century. On the slope of the castle hill stands the Church of St. Bartholomew, which was founded around 1350 and subsequently remodelled in the 16^th and 19^th centuries.