Chocianow: Churches, Palace Park and Routes

Chocianow offers several distinct ways to plan a stay: churches with different architectural and furnishing histories, the palace and park complex, and routes through the surrounding landscape. Its history spans periods from a medieval castle to 19th-century church buildings. For planning your trip, it is also helpful to distinguish between a cycling loop of around 30 km that returns to Chocianow and the blue trail through Przemków Landscape Park.

Churches from different centuries

St. Joseph the Worker Church stands in the middle of the market square. It was built in the 16th century; after a fire in 1746, it was extensively remodeled in the Baroque style and renovated in 1865–1866. Several clearly datable phases thus come together in one building: its origins, the major remodeling after the fire, and a later renovation. This sequence offers a concrete way to explore the town’s architectural history.

The church preserves a Renaissance baptismal font dating from 1585 and the tombstone of Aleksander von Stosch from 1616. Both predate the Baroque remodeling that followed the fire. Together with the later building phases, they show that the architectural history and the surviving furnishings each have their own points of reference in time. Those interested in historical details can view these dates as distinct chapters in the church’s history.

The Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary was built between 1864 and 1866 alongside a denominational school. The initiative came from local Catholics. Its construction period overlaps with the renovation of St. Joseph the Worker Church in 1865–1866; however, these were separate projects: the construction of a church and school on the one hand, and the renovation of an older religious building on the other. This comparison reveals two different 19th-century building histories.

Palace and park complex

A medieval castle originally stood on the site of the palace and park complex. Bolko I of Świdnica-Jawor had it built in 1297–1299; it was expanded in the first half of the 14th century. The lower part of a tower and a Gothic tracery window in the attic have survived in the present building. The site’s early history and the specific architectural features preserved in the present building thus offer distinct historical points of reference.

The park surrounding the palace covers around 20 ha. Wet meadows and marshes border it to the south, while urban development lies to the north. This contrast describes the park’s landscape setting from two sides: wetlands shape its southern edge, while to the north it meets a built-up area. For a themed stay, the architectural details of the palace complex and the park’s described landscape complement one another.

Cycling loop and blue trail

A cycling loop of about 30 km runs around Chocianow, passing through Uroczysko “Czarne Stawy,” Jakubowo Lubińskie and Pogorzeliska before returning to Chocianow. Its approximate length and the places along the way provide a clear outline of the route. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

The blue trail runs through forests and dunes in Przemków Landscape Park and connects Przemków, Gromadka and Chocianow. The routes described therefore differ in their main points of reference: the cycling loop is defined by its approximate length and return to Chocianow, while the blue trail is characterized by its woodland and dune landscape and the connection between the three places. These differences can help you choose a route based on the landscape and type of journey you prefer.

For a stay focused on history, the churches and palace complex offer several periods and specific architectural details. If you would rather explore Chocianow by following a route, you can choose between the cycling loop and the landscape of the blue trail. This lets you focus on the local themes that interest you without confusing the different route descriptions.

Discover more destinations: Radwanice, Stara Rzeka, Czerńczyce, Buczyna, Polkowice.

Go to the regional travel overview: Polkowice.