Trzebnica: St. Hedwig’s Basilica, Monastery History and Routes

When looking for a hotel in Trzebnica, the focus of your stay can help guide you: are you particularly interested in the Shrine of St. Hedwig and monastic heritage, a route with a spiritual connection, or leisure activities? The town offers various places and activities related to these interests. When planning, it is worth considering the visiting arrangements and the nature of each offering: at the basilica, service times matter, while the water park’s outdoor area is open seasonally.

Basilica of St. Hedwig and its architectural history

The Basilica of St. Hedwig is considered the oldest shrine in Silesia, one of the major necropolises of the Silesian Piasts, and a place consecrated through devotion to St. Hedwig. If you would like to visit the basilica, you can do so individually or in small groups outside service times. As arrangements may change, it is best to check visiting options in advance.

A specific architectural landmark within the shrine is the second chapel. Built in 1268–1269, it is considered the first building in Poland constructed in the pure Gothic style. The chapel therefore links a precisely specified construction period with a distinctive place in architectural history.

The Sister Olimpia Konopka Museum in the former Cistercian monastery presents the monastery’s heritage and the history of the Cistercian and Borromean sisters. Trzebnica Regional Museum also displays archaeological remains of an early human camp identified as Homo erectus. These topics highlight different aspects of history: monastic and religious-order history on the one hand, and archaeological evidence of an early human camp on the other.

St. Hedwig routes: a circular route and quiet reflection

The Great Way of St. Hedwig is a 7 km circular route. It starts and ends in the square in front of the Basilica of St. Hedwig and runs mainly along field and forest paths through the surrounding hills and suburbs of Trzebnica. The route is suitable for walkers and cyclists. Seven places along the route are connected with the life of St. Hedwig; seven meditation stones also represent her virtues. The circular route thus combines a set distance with places and symbols that reflect the connection to Hedwig.

The Little Way of St. Hedwig has a different focus: on the Pilgrims’ Square, it consists of 15 stone stations and is intended for prayer and quiet reflection. If you are choosing between the two routes, their form and purpose offer practical guidance: the Great Way is described as a circular route through the surrounding hills and suburbs, while the Little Way is a series of stations on the Pilgrims’ Square with a spiritual focus.

Water activities and attractions in town

Gminny Park Wodny TRZEBNICA-ZDRÓJ complements the cultural and route-related attractions with a variety of water activities. These include a swimming section, the Hydra Trzebnica underwater hockey section, swimming lessons for children and adults, aqua aerobics, water rehabilitation and holiday camps. The outdoor area is open seasonally. It features outdoor slides, a children’s playground with a paddling pool and a beach volleyball court. This distinction is important when planning: the outdoor facilities listed are part of the park’s seasonally open area.

Kocia Ścieżka offers a different kind of attraction. It consists of cat sculptures placed at several locations in Trzebnica and is aimed at children and tourists. Unlike the St. Hedwig routes, it is not described as a single circular route or a series of stone stations, but as sculptures at different locations around town. When choosing what to visit, you can therefore distinguish between a route with a set course and an attraction featuring sculptures in several locations.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Pęgów, Wisznia Mała, Szewce, Świątniki, Oborniki Śląskie, Żmigród, Zawonia, Psary

For the main travel overview: Trzebnicki.