Discover Kotla

There are several distinct themes to explore during a stay in Kotla: the history of the castle, the park, St. Martin’s Church, an atonement cross and a cycling route. The history of the buildings and the town can be distinguished from the points of interest along the route, which also include old trees and natural history features. You can therefore plan your trip around whether you would rather focus on historical landmarks, local legends or a cycling route.

Castle, park and local legend

Kotla Castle was built by Johann von Müllenau towards the end of the 17th century. To its south lies the 4.2-hectare park, which is listed in the register of monuments. The castle and park can thus be viewed as connected but distinct aspects of the town’s history: one tells of its builder and the period in which it was built, while the other is a protected historic garden.

The legend of the White Lady has long been associated with the castle. It adds a narrative perspective to the history of the building. In Kotla, the history of the buildings and local legend therefore offer two different ways of exploring the past.

Church, atonement cross and market history

After a fire in 1731, St. Martin’s Church in Kotla was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1748. Together with the castle, it offers a comparison between two building histories: the castle dates from towards the end of the 17th century, while the church’s fire and reconstruction are marked by the separate dates 1731 and 1748. The Baroque style adds an architectural dimension to this timeline.

Kotla’s atonement cross offers a different point of interest. It is the northernmost monument of its kind in Lower Silesia and bears an axe design. Its regional significance and specific image set it apart from the histories of the castle and the church: the focus here is on the monument’s unique status and its depiction.

The history of the market offers another perspective on Kotla. Since 1678, the town has held the status of a market town and has hosted three annual fairs featuring horse and cattle markets: on Easter Monday, the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the feast day of Saint Hedwig. Along with its historic designation as a market town, this adds animal trading and three specifically named market days. This gives the market a different historical focus from the history of the buildings and monuments.

Cycling route and natural history

The Grochowice–Kotla–Kozie Doły–Chociemyśl cycling route offers a different focus and is listed in the Kotla municipality’s cycling route directory. It passes places of interest, historical commemorative objects, old trees and natural history features. Unlike the individual buildings and the atonement cross, it brings together a range of cultural, historical and natural themes along a single route.

When planning your trip, you can consider the route as a theme in its own right alongside the castle, church and market history. Those primarily interested in architectural history can focus on the different periods represented by the castle and St. Martin’s; the atonement cross and the legend offer other historical perspectives. The cycling route broadens the choice to include the nature and commemorative themes mentioned above. Before setting out, it is advisable to check local conditions.

Discover more destinations: Głogów, Żukowice, Zabornia, Szczyglice

Go to the overview of the wider region: Głogowski.