2007 Tour Information
The region of Lower Silesia is one of renowned beauty. This tour begins
and ends in Wroclaw, the region's capital. Wroclaw is replete with Gothic
churches, Flemish style Renaissance mansions, Viennese Baroque palaces &
chapels, tranquil parks, gardens, & rivers, and a vibrant cultural scene
which enjoys world renown. Outside of Wroclaw you enter the regions playground.
The gently rolling landscape that we travel through is full of ponds, lakes,
rivers, open farmlands, dense forests, rugged mountains, and a multitude
of unspoiled villages. The cycling is absolutely superb, the landscape is
stunning, and the people are warm, generous, and welcoming.
8 Day / 7 Nights Tour
€995 / £670
Tours start every Saturday (and end the following Saturday) from July 8 through September 16.
**Book early to receive your Early Bird discount.
Day 1 - Saturday - Arrive in Wroclaw
Arrive in Wroclaw. In the evening you will meet the guides and the other
riders. Dinner and accommodation is provided in a cosy hotel near the town
center, with only a few minutes walk to Ostrow Tumski (the city's ecclesiastical
heart) and the Rynek (old town square). Following the introductions you
are free to explore the numerous bars for a quiet or noisy drink. Of course,
we can provide recommendations!
Day 2 - Sunday - Trzebnica to Lubiaz
After a short minibus shuttle from Wroclaw, we arrive in the picturesque
town of Trzebnica where we spend the morning exploring its long and distinguished
history. The main attraction is the Cisterian Convent which was established
in 1202 by Saint Jadwiga (St Hedwig). Its architectural heritiage is firmly
Romanesque but it also has particularly Gothic touches in the Basilica of
St Jadwiga. We will have an easy day of riding and will cover a distance
of approximately 35km. Trzebnica has an elevated position and we get to
enjoy a gentle downhill course through forests and farmland towards the
Odra river. For 2/3 of the way we follow the Odra River and ride through
numerous small villages, some of which look like nothing has changed for
100 years. In the last leg of today's ride we enter the coolness of the
forest which is full of wildlife. The ride ends in the relaxed village atmosphere
of Lubiaz and it is here that we visit another impressive attraction. The
village of Lubiaz rests in the shadow of a massive Cisterian Abbey which
ranks as the largest and most impressive monastic complex in central Europe.
Since its establishment in 12th Century, the enormous Baroque buildings
have served as an abbey, a mental institution, a stud farm, labour camp,
and a book warehouse.
Day 3 - Monday - Lubiaz to Bolkow
After leaving Lubiaz in the morning we ride in the subtle shadows of birch
and oak trees which follow the banks of several meandering creeks and small
rivers. An easy 25km ride later we arrive in one of Polands oldest towns,
Strzegom. We break for lunch here and spend some time exploring the huge
Gothic Basilica of SS Peter and Paul. The afternoon is particularly relaxing
as we ride a pleasant 10 km through open fields and unspoiled villages.
We will reach the small town of Bolkow in the early afternoon and visit
the impressive ruins of Duke Bolko's 13th Century castle - one of the oldest
and most interesting example of medieval defensive castles in Poland. We
stop for the night in Bolkow enjoy a traditional Polish dinner in an excellent
restaurant.
Day 4 - Tuesday - Bolkow to Karpacz
We continue our journey through the cool shade of beautiful Polish forests
as we enter the gently undulating terrain of the lower Sudety foothills.
We follow the soothing wanderings of quiet rural roads that trace the course
of rivers and streams that were chilled with last Winter's snow during the
Spring. We arrive in the serene village of Krzeszow which is situated next
to a huge Abbey complex, which ranks historically and most certainly artistically,
among the most exceptional monuments in Lower Silesia. The blue veined marble
interiors and the magnificent fresco cycles of St Joseph's and the Monastic
Church are absolutely wonderful. After our lunch break we ride on to our
next destination: the popular mountain village of Karpacz. As Karpacz is
a snow skiing destination in Winter and a hiking destination in Summer it
has numerous extraordinary attractions: the curious wooden refinement of
the Romanesque Wang Chapel and a year-round chairlift which will transport
you to the top of Sniezka mountain where you can drink in the fresh mountain
air. As we are spending the night here you have the opportunity to see,
hear, and taste the unique culture of the Polish mountain people.
Day 5 - Wednesday - Karpacz to Zamek Chojnik
We leave Karpacz in the morning and continue our tour through some hilly
terrain. The distance travelled is quite short today as we arrive in the
stunning medieval town of Jelenia Gora. In the delightfully attractive town
square you can have a delicious lunch and a coffee in one of the many quality
restaraunts or coffee shops. After spending a few hours exploring a town
which has many late Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical monuments we
cycle on to the small village of Sobieszow. In Sobieszow we leave our bikes
and set off on a 40min hike through the forest to the most remarkable accommodation
of the trip - Chonik Castle. Chojnik Castle majestically straddles a wooded
hill of the same name. The 14th Century medieval feudal stronghold is in
a semi-ruined state and it houses a hotel and a restaurant where we will
stay and contemplate the legend of the man loathing princess that lived
there.
Day 6 - Thursday - Zamek Chojnik to Ksiaz
Following breakfast, we start a brisk downhill walk back to the village
of Sobieszow where we will hop on our bikes and cycle along softly undulating
paths through pristine Polish forests towards another immense Polish monument:
Castle Ksiaz. Ksiaz is one of the best preserved castles in Lower Silesia
and is famous as the largest hilltop fortress in Poland. When we arrive
in the afternoon we are lucky enough to spend a few hours exploring the
nooks and crannies of the massive and majestic complex. The escorted ascent
to the top of the main tower is fascinating and once at the top the view
of the surrounding landscape is breathtaking and absorbing as the guide
points out the location from which V2 rockets were fired on England sixty
years ago. During WWII Ksiaz housed a bomb-proof bunker for Hitler, but
now it's known for its beautiful gardens and its famous horse stud farm.
After a right royal dinner we settle down for the night in an unusual and
impressive hotel set in one of the castle outbuildings.
Day 7 - Friday - Ksiaz to Sobotka
Royally rested we once again venture into the foothills of Sudety mountains
towards one of the more mysterious destinations in Poland. In the quiet
village of Gluszyca lies one of the main entrances to the mysterious 'Reise
Project': the underground town of Osowka, which was built during WWII. No
one knows the full extent of the project, nor the purpose of the many kilometers
of corridors dug into the hard and rocky Sowie mountains. The project wasn't
completed due to WWII ending, but to give you some idea about the scale
of the project, the Nazi director at the time complained that his concrete
ration of 28,000 tons was nowhere near enough to complete the next stage!
After a lunch in the forests around the Osowka complex, we ride downhill
towards another famous Lower Silesia location - Sleza mountain. Leaving
our bikes in our hotel we make our way to the base of the mountain. Sleza
rises impressively from the surrounding flatness and is one of the most
perplexing sites in Poland. The mountain was used for pagan worship in Celtic
times and was later settled by an unknown Slav tribe (who named the mountain
and Silesia itself). Situated on its slopes are several mysterious ancient
sculptures and carvings whose origins and symbolism is not known. We stay
the night in the shade of Sleza mountain and make our way back to Wroclaw
the following morning.
Day 8 - Saturday - Sobotka to Wroclaw
Your week in the beautiful expanse of Lower Silesia is almost over. You
have seen the very best natural and monumental attractions that the region
has to offer. But if time allows, take another look around Wroclaw. Of course,
we can provide hotel recommendations and let you know of the must see attractions
Wroclaw is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and has been likened
to Prague due to its bridges, churches, parks, architecture, and its river
location. It is a city that will stay in your heart and live in your memory.
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