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The Green Trail from Parchatka to Janowiec

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Route description

The main natural attraction of the trail is the picturesque Małopolska Gorge of the Vistula River, which can be admired both from the right- and left bank of the river.

Many interesting memorabilia from the times gone by are found in the vicinity of the route. Especially interesting are the Czartoryski Family Palace-Park Complex in Puławy and the Castle in Janowiec. Lovers of modern technology will be delighted to explore the Puławy marine, the most modern river port on the Vistula, the Queen of Polish rivers.

Traversing the trail does not require mountain terrain bicycles, as almost the entire surface of the trail is paved.

 

The ride along the green trail begins at the bicycle path running along the Vistula River levees in the vicinity of the village of Parchatka. In order to get here from the Amber Trail, you need turn left at its 35.66 km into the black connecting trail (see p. XXX).

The dike, through which you need to ride the 430 m separating the road connecting Kazimierz Dolny and Puławy from the levee, is located along one of the three ditches draining water to the Vistula.

The site where the ride begins is exceptional, since this is where the Vistula River bend is extended farthest east in the entire course of the river. The river also changes its direction here – from northeast to northwest. The hills towering over the village of Puchatka are noteworthy. In fact, they are the edges of the valley and the borderline between two geographic lands: the Małopolska Gorge of the Vistula River and the Nałęczowski Plateau.

The Małopolska Gorge of the Vistula River is the lower section of the Vistula River Valley from Zawichost to Puławy, and it is about 70 km long. The very picturesque natural river environment is a significant habitat of many bird, mammal and plant species. Since it is also an ecological corridor of the European rank, two Special Protection Areas were established here as part of Natura 2000 Wildlife Conservation Network. Splendid landscapes, formed by the river tearing into the limestone rocks of the Lublin Upland, are most admirable when viewed from Trzech Krzyży [Three Crosses] Mount in Parchatka, the tower in Kazimierz Dolny, and from the castle hill in Janowiec.

Looking at the Parchatka hills, it is easy to note the elevation dominating the vicinity, called Trzech Krzyży [Three Crosses] Mount. The history of the crosses placed there is very interesting and is associated with Princess Izabela Czartoryska.

More than two hundred years ago, Princess Izabela Czartoryska established a hermitage with a romantic garden in Parchatka. This is where the Czartoryski family organized idyllic hikes, picnics and games, which were attended by the duke’s entire court. Even Tsar Alexander I was among the guests. This establishment constituted a significant element of Princess Czartoryska’s vision of harmonious fusion of beautiful landscape with rational economy. The three crosses, situated on the top of the hill located south of the garden with the hermitage were meant to complement the landscape of the melancholic Parchatka. Princess Izabela placed them there to commemorate the death of her pupil, Zofia née Matuszewicz Kicka. The Princess not only liked the girl very much, but she was also very attached to her and vividly interested in the life of her charge. Soon after Zofia married Ludwik Kicki, she gave birth to her first child who unfortunately died a few months later. The young wife was devastated by this misfortune. As it turned out, the cruel fate did not spare her, and when she became pregnant again, due to birth complications, not only did the child die, but Zofia died as well. It happened in Warsaw on December 5, 1822. In order to honour her favourite pupil and her deceased children, the Princess erected three crosses on the hill in Parchatka. Unfortunately, they have not been preserved until the present day, and gradually, the memory of the person to whom they were dedicated also fell into oblivion. After many local efforts, the three crosses returned to their historical site in the autumn of 2006. The architectural design of the crosses was prepared by Prof. Konrad Kucz-Kuczyński of the Warsaw University of Technology.

You proceed on the bicycle path toward the town of Puławy that is about 7 km away. After 100 m you pass by the first hop field, and you will see many more on the way.

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The Lublin Region is renowned for hop cultivation. About 85% of the national hop production comes from here, as does the most premium variety of hop. Expert brewers around the world greatly appreciate the famous “Lublin” variety for its excellent and unique flavour. It is worth knowing that this variety is featured in most recipes of the best beers in the world. Due to its unique aroma bouquet, it cannot be replaced with simpler varieties of the Gentian family. That is why many breweries are unable to produce good quality beer without using this variety.

En route you cross the road made of concrete slabs. Following that road, you can either reach Parchatka or the site of the Vistula River fork, where it divides into two river branches. Right behind the concrete slab road the floodgate connected to the levee ditch is located. Heading toward Puławy, about 1 km later behind another hop plantation at the highway connecting Puławy with Kazimierz Dolny, you pass by a mysterious mound with a cross and a plaque dating from 1916 with the inscription “[In Memory of] Heroes who perished in the defence of freedom – Compatriots.” Two dates are placed below: 1830 and 1916.

It is most likely that the plaque refers to the participants of the battle that was held in the vicinity during the November Uprising of 1830-1831. On April 18, 1831, the Polish Army headed by General Julian Sierawski crossed the Vistula River in Kazimierz Dolny to the river’s left bank. When most of the cavalry and cannonry, and part of the infantry were already on the other bank, the remaining insurgents were attacked by the main enemy forces of the Russian General Cyprian Kreutz. The Polish units, who had at their disposal merely two cannons, dispersed around Kazimierz and the nearby ravines. Kreutz attacked from the south, and the Poles defended individual outposts. Eventually, a small number of units, headed by General Sierawski retreated toward Puławy, covered by the 4th Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of Line Infantry that fought in town.

Hardly anyone knows that Parchatka is associated with an episode from the life of the famous film director, Andrzej Wajda.

Andrzej Wajda, who resided in Radom with his parents, was 13 years old when the war broke out. His father, a professional military man, left for the front, and the mother and the sons remained alone at home relying on themselves. Several days after the commencement of military action, fearing the arrests of army officers’ families, Aniela Wajda escaped together with her sons to the vicinity of Puławy. For a month, they hid in the village of Parchatka near the road to Kazimierz Dolny. When the situation calmed down, they returned home to Radom.

Meanwhile you reach the entrance to the levee (at 1.17 km). You can admire bushes and trees growing on the seasonally flooded plain between the Vistula River and the levee.

The Vistula River riparian forests feature willows, poplars and alders. People stop by here relatively rarely, so these picturesque areas became an excellent mainstay for diverse bird species, especially waterfowl such as plovers, terns, seagulls and herons.

Continuing the ride, you pass by an apple orchard (at 1.47 km) and another (third) floodgate (at 1.66 km). Soon you can again enter the levee (at 1.86 km), from which you can see the Puławy Nitric Acid Plant. A kilometre later after the hop field, you will see vast meadows and the tower blocks of the Niwa Housing Estate in the distance. You pass by a cherry orchard (at 3.39 km) and after 300 m you can access the levee by walking up the stairs, from which a splendid view of the Vistula River branch unfolds. It is worth traversing several dozen metres in order to reach the very shore of the Queen of Polish rivers, because the view here is absolutely captivating. Having returned to the trail, after another 400 m, you reach one of the most beautiful sites on the trail. From the shore you can see two neighbouring islands, covered with a thick riparian forest. It is worth stopping here in order to delight in the encounter with nature’s beauty. Another 600 m later you can go down to the Vistula River shore in order to admire the majesty of Poland’s largest river (at 4.66 km). 300 m after the exit from the levee, you pass by the stone monument dedicated to the “Memory of the soldiers from the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Army who perished during the forcing the Vistula River on August 1–3, 1944” (at 4.77 km).

In the early August of 1944, the soldiers of the Polish First Army tried to force the Vistula River near Dęblin and Puławy. The Poles failed and suffered heavy losses. On the night of August 1, the 3rd Battalion of the 4th Regiment of Infantry headed by Colonel Mieczysław Melenas conquered the small foothold in the vicinity of the grove located south of Góra Puławska. On August 2, the 4th Regiment of Infantry transferred across the river to the left bank 770 soldiers with weapons but without artillery. During the day, heavy fights took place on the foothold, and the Polish battalions continuously fought off the German counterattacks. The attempts to force and support the foothold made during the night of August 2 ended in failure. Under these circumstances, the commanders decided to evacuate the soldiers from the location. The action that began on the night of August 3 was completed on the night of August 4.

The total death toll of Polish soldiers who fought over the river crossing in the Dęblin and Puławy region was 1,375. The killed soldiers are buried in the military cemetery in Puławy. On the other hand, the heavy fighting that took place here occupied significant German forces, which allowed the Polish side to recapture footholds on other sections of the Vistula River.

Continuing the ride, you pass by the first garden plots (at 5.01 km), which stretch for over 1.3 km, gradually straying away from the bicycle path. About 700 m later you can see ahead of you, slightly to the left, the old Ignacy Mościcki Bridge on the Vistula River (at 5.77 km). Another 6 km later, you reach the Łęg na Kępie Nature Reserve in Puławy, located right behind the garden plots.

Established in 1963 in order to protect the Vistula River riparian forest, the Łęg na Kępie Nature Reserve in Puławy has an area of 4.71 ha. The reserve, partially phytocoenotic, i.e. containing plant communities, is located on the floodplain of the Vistula River. It features numerous species of local and introduced tree species. Among the non-native species are the Swamp Spanish Oaks, Cottonwoods, Canadian Poplars, and Eastern White Pines. The Łęg na Kępie Reserve can be seen from the lower garden of the Czartoryski Park and from the vicinity of the garden plots.

You ride on the concrete slab road (at 6.25 km) and reach the signpost, which says that you are 1 km away from Puławy, 18 km away from Janowiec, and 22 km away from Kazimierz Dolny. You leave the levee and turn right behind the signpost.  30 m later the green trail ends on this side of the Vistula River. You still need to take a 1.5-km-long ride to the other bank of the Vistula River where the route of the green trail continues.

The route runs by a parking lot, you pass by a rest area for cyclists on the right (at 6.38 km), cross a small wooden bridge and enter the asphalt road. You ride along Rybacka Steet, and having reached 4. Pułku Piechoty WP Street, you turn left (at 6.81 km). The neo-Classical Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, resembling a pantheon, is located on the hill on the right hand side.

The church was erected in 1803, according to the design by Christian Aigner, on the northwest corner of the palace hill that belonged to the Czartoryski family. Outside, eight Corinthian columns decorate the portico, and the building is topped with a dome featuring a large skylight in the middle. The inscription “To the Mother of God Assumed into Heaven” is placed above the portico, while the inscription “Remembering the faith and virtue of my beloved Mother, Marya née Sieniawska Princess Czartoryska, I dedicate [this church] W.R. Prince Adam Kazimierz” was added above the entrance at the request of the founder of the church. Inside the church, a gallery supported by twelve Ionic columns and located by the walls encircles the interior. The church also features a marble pulpit, stucco works by F. Bauman and the copy of Raphael’s Madonna. At present, the noteworthy objects that have been transferred from the palace chapel are displayed inside and include the altar, confessionals and pews.

You are now close to the Czartoryski Family Palace-Park Complex where the most interesting historical monuments of Puławy are located (see p. XXX). You can get there from the green trail following a connecting trail, which takes you along the bicycle paths to the palace park and then along Zielona and Skowieszyńska Streets to the intersection with Gościńczyk Street, where you enter the Amber Trail Greenways. Continuing on the bicycle paths along Wojska Polskiego, Zygmunta Wróblewskiego and Bolesława Prusa Streets, you reach the municipal forest, where the blue and yellow trails begin.

You remain on the green trail and reach Piłsudskiego Street. There you turn left toward the bridge (at 6.87 km). You pass by the modern buildings of the Puławy Marina on the right.

Puławy Marina, managed by the Municipal Centre for Sports and Recreation, is one of the most modern ports of this type at the Vistula, Queen of Polish rivers. The port boasts a motor punt, adjusted to navigation on the Vistula River. The “Marzanka” Boat has a capacity of 14 people and is available both for organized groups and individual customers. Tourists can also use the catamaran and motorboat, as well as the kayak and water bike rental shop. You can also rent the “normal” single-track vehicles. The port area features playgrounds for children, and the two-level parking lot for 100 cars located near the old bridge gate. A semi-circular building located further down in the port contains camper amenities, a bar and restrooms. Sites for 19 campers are next to the building. Marina is prepared to serve about 40 boats. A hangar for boats and motorboats is located behind the harbour, near the levee from the side of the village of Góra Puławska. You can cross the canal, linking the marina with the harbour basin, over the drawbridge. The Puławy Marina is the only port on the Vistula River that is equipped with floating jetties that rise together with the river stage. The jetties are lit and have access to water and electricity. The marina boatswain’s office is open 24 h a day and provides access to information about the weather forecasts. You can learn about the regulations, prices and the marina’s offer at the newly established Internet website (www.marina-pulawy.pl).

Another memorial site on the route is located on the levee before the bridge (on the right, if you come from the direction of Puławy). The cross and the memorial plaque commemorate 35 Poles, members of the resistance movement, who were publicly executed on this site on January 17, 1944 by the Nazi German officers.

You enter the Ignacy Mościcki Bridge (at 7.29 km).

The bridge, unique on the national and European scale, features the commemorative plaque with the following inscription: “The President Ignacy Mościcki Bridge was built in 1934 by the K. Rudzki i S-ka Society and the Royal Steel Factory in Chorzów. Rebuilt from the war destruction in 1949 by Road Bridge Restoration Management in Kielce and renovated in 1996 by “Mosty Płock” Polish Bridge Renovation Company, “Mosty Łódź” Bridge Renovation Company and “ARSA – Gdynia.” Opened in October of 1934, the bridge was destroyed as a result of war actions in 1939 and 1944. Its supporting structure consists of steel truss girders with variable curvature of the upper level. The bridge consists of five spans, the widest of which is 110 m long. The total length of the bridge is 483 m.

When crossing the old bridge, you have a splendid view of the Vistula River, the Vistula sandbanks, and the new bridge on the right (at 7.42 km). Having reached the other bank of the river, you leave Puławy (at 7.8 km), and a short while later you turn left (at 7.81 km) and arrive at an information board with a map, located already in the village of Góra Puławska (at 7.85 km). According to the information provided here, you are 18 km away from Janowiec, if you continue along the green trail; and 13 km away from Zarzecze (with a rest area), if you chose to ride along the red trail. From now on the routes of the green and red trails overlap on the stretch of 4.29 km.

After several hundred metres you reach Radomska Street. You proceed straight on along the road for about 450 m and then turn into Długa Street (at 8.75 km). You then ride uphill. On the right you pass by a stadium used for training by the local football team, KS Góra Puławska, where various events are held (at 8.95 km). Going downhill from the top of the elevation (at 9.97 km), you pass by a neighbourhood of nice single-family houses in Adamówka. About 260 m later, at the road fork you turn right (at 10.23 km). At first, you ride along the edge of the forest, and then the road strays away from the forest. Before you approach the trees again, you first pass by a pretty house with the yellow elevation on the left (at 10.95 km), and a moment later, an orchard on the right (at 11.05 km). After the asphalt road ends, you proceed for about 1.5 km on the unpaved road. You enter the forest and turn left (at 11.34 km). You continue straight on all the time, along the edge of the wooded area. The forest road is barely visible and you need to watch out for the stumps and branches lying on the ground. After about 300 m you leave the forest and enter a meadow, proceeding on along the edge of the forest. About 230 m later you should reach the castle, which confirms that you are on the green and red trails (at 11.86 km). Earlier on, if you look left, you will see the yellow house that you passed by before, and behind it in the distance above the forest you can see the chimneys of the Puławy Nitric Acid Plant. You proceed on the path at the forest behind the road sign, and then through the forest road along the overhead power line (at 11.98 km). After 300 m you leave the overhead lines behind you and continue straight on with the forest wall on the left (at 12.29 km). After another 350 m you enter the asphalt road. This is where the trails part ways, the red trail turns right, and the green trail goes straight on (at 12.64 km). 200 m later the asphalt road ends, so you proceed the next 500 m on the gravel road. Then you enter regional road, Route 743 in Sadłowice (at 13.22 km). On the left you pass by the “Oxer” Horse-Riding and Recreational Centre in Sadłowice with the indoor riding hall and the horse hotel. Horse riding camps, wagon rides, sledge cavalcades, bonfires, horse rides in the riding hall and cross-country riding, are organized here.

At the road fork, you continue on the main road veering slightly right (at 13.31 km). Then, you proceed on the shoulder of the rather busy highway to Nasiłów. After 3.4 km you pass by the road leading to the ferry crossing in Nasiłów. The “Serokomla” Ferry shuttles regularly here, transporting the passengers between the villages of Nasiłów and Bochotnica. This road also leads to the two famous Nasiłów quarries.

The quarries in Nasiłów are considered an excellent geological open-pit and a model exposure of layers dating from the bordering Cretaceous and Tertiary Periods. The quarries offer an insight into the truly long history of the Earth: from before 70 million years ago. During that time, the territory of Poland was covered by the sea. It was warm, saline and about 1,000 m deep, which fostered the development of plant and animal organisms, such as corals, sea urchins, and brachiopods, as well as sharks, rays and large reptiles – mosasaurus. Gradually, as the result of the tectonic plate movement, the sea became shallow. The hexactinellid sponges living in the sea, which became limed with the shells of the foraminifera, constituted the main building component of the rocks exposed in the quarries, that is spongolites. The no longer functioning quarries used to serve in the past as the source of building stone. The rocks used for the regulation of the Vistula River were extracted from them. The Kazimierz spongelite, excavated in the local quarries, was also the basic building component of the oldest existing historical monuments in Kazimierz, the tower and the castle, as well as the mansions, churches and the pretty modern villas. A fantastic view opens up from the top of the quarry in Nasiłów on Bochotnica, Kazimierz Dolny, and the Vistula River picturesquely meandering here.

Nasiłów also features the Folk Art Chamber run by self-taught sculptor Zygmunt Kozak. Visiting is possible after a telephone reservation in advance (phone: +48 81 880 40 33).

Zygmunt Kozak is the author of several hundred wooden sculptures and bas-reliefs depicting various themes. Most of his artistic oeuvre focuses on sacred sculpting, such as nativity scenes, the Pensive Christ, Our Lady of the Rosary, and figures of the saints. Some of the artist’s works present natural and patriotic themes, e.g. the national emblem, figures of statesmen and portraits of Polish Nobel Prize winners). Kozak has been actively involved in meetings propagating sculpting among children and youth for many years.

Regional Road 743 ends in Nasiłów and this is where you turn right (at 18.06 km). You proceed for about 700 m parallel to the Vistula River, and then you pass by a historical cross placed here in 1918 by Walenty Wasiłek and Stanisław Sijka (at 18.56 km). After 1.3 km you turn left (at 19.91 km) and continuing straight on all the time, you cross through the village of Wojszyn (at 21.3 km). Behind the village you pass by a roadside shrine (at 21.87 km) and you turn left before the village of Oblasy onto the gravel road (at 22.88 km). 320 m later you pass by a pear tree and the trail marker placed beneath, signalling that you are on the green trail. At the road fork, you turn right (at 23.4 km), and then cross the narrow asphalt road (at 23.92 km) and ride along the forest wall. You go straight on through the next intersection, passing by a large willow tree, and a birch grove on the right (at 23.38 km). Soon you will reach another magnificent willow tree with the green trail marker on it. You pass by a rest area for cyclists on the right hand side (at 24.4 km) and stop by the roadside Shrine of St. Nicholas located at the entrance to the castle in Janowiec. Apart from the image of the patron saint, the shrine also features Latin inscriptions that are worth noting. You will learn that the artist dedicated this work of art to St. Nicholas and the shrine was created Ad futurum rei memoriam (In memory of future things) and also that art is longer than life – Ars longa vita brevis. You enter the castle through the gate. The fortifications towering over the entire vicinity are the main tourist attraction in Janowiec (see p. XXX). This is where the ride along the green trail comes to an end.

 

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  • 2014-07-31 16:15:13
    silnik
    Do szlaku przymierzałem się z dwóch stron. Startując od Puław i tu poległem nie wiedziałem jak jechać. Natomiast od Janowca jest ciut lepiej ale nie wiele. Chodzi o odcinek hmm jak to wytłumaczyć startując z Puław przejeżdżamy przez Adamowka i dojeżdżamy do lasu i tam ostro skręcamy w lewo, mijamy oznaczenie dwóch szlaków czerwonego i zielonego i pojawia się potrójne rozwidlenie drogi. Jedziemy prosto choć ta droga jest jakby najmniej uczęszczana. Drogą tą wyjedziemy z lasu na wprost pola i przez to pole trzeba przejść choć drogi tam nie ma, kierujemy się na wprost wzdłuż linii lasu.
    Jadąc od Janowca za miejscowością Sadłowice brak jest oznaczenia że trzeba skręcić na skrzyżowaniu w lewo a potem po około 100m w prawo. Dalej są oznakowania aż dojedziemy do tego wrednego pola. Po prawej kończy się las a my śmiało zasuwany przez pole wzdłuż lewej linii lasu. POWODZENIA

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  • Type: Bike rental

  • Bridge named President Ignacy Moscicki

    Type: Monument

    The bridge, unique on the national and European scale, features the commemorative plaque with the following inscription: “The President Ignacy Mościcki Bridge was built in 1934 by the K. Rudzki...

  • Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

    Type: Church

    The church was erected in 1803, according to the design by Christian Aigner, on the northwest corner of the palace hill that belonged to the Czartoryski family. Outside, eight Corinthian columns...

  • Hop

    Type: Nature

    The Lublin Region is renowned for hop cultivation. About 85% of the national hop production comes from here, as does the most premium variety of hop. Expert brewers around the world greatly appreciate...

  • Parchatka

    Type: Nature

    ssociated with Princess Izabela Czartoryska.

     

    More than two hundred years ago, Princess Izabela Czartoryska established a hermitage with a romantic garden in Parchatka. This is where the...

  • Puławy Marina

    Type: Another monument

    Puławy Marina, managed by the Municipal Centre for Sports and Recreation, is one of the most modern ports of this type at the Vistula, Queen of Polish rivers. The port boasts a motor punt, adjusted...

  • The Folk Art Chamber

    Type: Museum

    Zygmunt Kozak is the author of several hundred wooden sculptures and bas-reliefs depicting various themes. Most of his artistic oeuvre focuses on sacred sculpting, such as nativity scenes, the Pensive...

  • The Małopolska Gorge of the Vistula River

    Type: Nature

    The Małopolska Gorge of the Vistula River is the lower section of the Vistula River Valley from Zawichost to Puławy, and it is about 70 km long. The very picturesque natural river environment is a...

  • The quarries in Nasiłów

    Type: Another monument

    The quarries in Nasiłów are considered an excellent geological open-pit and a model exposure of layers dating from the bordering Cretaceous and Tertiary Periods. The quarries offer an insight...

  • The Łęg na Kępie Nature Reserve in Puławy

    Type: Nature

    Established in 1963 in order to protect the Vistula River riparian forest, the Łęg na Kępie Nature Reserve in Puławy has an area of 4.71 ha. The reserve, partially phytocoenotic, i.e. containing...

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    24-05-2015

    To: 16:00
    24-05-2015

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  • From: 13:00
    24-05-2014

    To: 20:00
    24-05-2014

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  • 2014-07-31 16:00:08
    2
    silnik
    Szlak który budzi mieszane uczucia, dam mu 2,5 gwiazdki . W zasadzie poruszamy się wzdłuż Wisły ale jej prawie nie widzimy. Po za tym jest odcinek który jest zagadką jeśli chodzi o oznakowanie – o tym więcej w zakładce SPRAWOZDANIE

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  • Length: 25.41 km
  • Route type: green trail
  • Difficulty level: 2
  • Average rating: 2
  • Ratings count: 1
  • Completed times: 4

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