Chotowa: Nature Trails, Peat Bogs and Reservoir

Chotowa brings together a nature reserve, forest trails, a grotto and waterside recreation. This gives you several options when planning your trip: you can discover the peat bog landscape and its plant life, get a sense of one of the hiking routes described here, or explore the cultural site surrounding the Grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Torfy Nature Reserve and Forest Landscape

The “Torfy” Nature Reserve was established in 1987 and covers about 12 hectares. It is located in Głowaczowa and Chotowa, in the Czarna municipality and within the Dębica Forest District. The reservoir in Chotowa lies amid extensive pine and oak forests. The local landscape thus brings together protected peat bog areas and a forest-fringed recreation destination.

The “Torfy” nature and forest trail begins in the Chotowa forest range, in the Czarna municipality, next to the Chapel of St. Hubert on the Chotowa–Grabiny route. At about 3 kilometres long and taking approximately two hours, it is the shorter of the two routes presented here. Its seven stops cover the protection of the natural habitat of the round-leaved sundew, as well as numerous species and plant communities of peat bogs. The trail passes through the nature reserve, so the sundew and its habitat are among the topics specifically covered.

Two Hiking Routes Compared by Duration

The green hiking trail runs through the Czarna and Pilzno municipalities, passing through Grabiny, the “Torfy” Nature Reserve, Chotowa, Machowa, the “Słotwina” Nature Reserve and Podlesie Machowskie. It is about 18 kilometres long, with a walking time of approximately four and a half hours. Compared with the nature trail, which takes around two hours, it requires considerably more time and follows a route through several localities and protected areas.

These details help you distinguish the scope of the routes: the nature trail focuses its seven stops on nature topics in the “Torfy” area, while the green trail connects several places in the region along a longer route. Both times are approximate. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Grotto, Spring and Inscription

The Grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chotowa was built in 1958. The inscription “Pielgrzymie spocznij u stóp Marii, to matka Twoja” is carved in stone at the grotto. Its meaning is: “Pilgrim, rest at Mary’s feet; she is your mother.” A spring next to the grotto was already known in the 19th century. Alongside its religious significance, the inscription and the historical reference to the spring connect this place with local history.

Recreation at the Reservoir

The reservoir is considered a place for waterside recreation, experiencing nature, beach visits, water sports, fishing and mushroom picking. These activities differ considerably from the forest nature trail’s focus: here, the emphasis is on different forms of leisure by the water and in the surrounding natural area. A description from 2022 places the reservoir on the grounds of the “GRAND” recreation and training centre, halfway between Pilzno and Czarna. Before your visit, check the current conditions for trails and recreational activities.

Discover more destinations: Góra Motyczna, Żyraków, Żdżary, Podgrodzie, Bielowy, Dębica, Łęki Dolne, Grabiny.

Go to the main travel overview: Dębica.