Przeworsk County: Nature, Trails and History

Przeworsk County extends across the Carpathian Foothills and the Sandomierz Basin. Nature areas, hiking and cycling routes, as well as churches, monasteries and museums give trips here a variety of themes. For help planning your arrival: the county is accessible via international route E40, also known as national road 4, and via the A4 motorway, which has two junctions in the county.

Nature areas with distinct characteristics

The Sieniawa forest area is home to a landscape protection area and the Lupa Nature Reserve. Common ivy, legally protected old oak trees and firs grow in the Lupa Nature Reserve. The Husówka Nature Reserve near Sietesz has a different focus: it contains a larch stand and occurrences of the Southern festoon moth. Nature enthusiasts will find two clearly named protected areas, each with its own features.

Choose hiking and cycling routes by distance

There are several hiking and cycling trails in the county. The hiking trail from Przeworsk to Zarzecze passes through Maćkówka and Zalesie and is 18 kilometres long. A longer hiking route is the blue trail from Dynów to Biała near Rzeszów: it runs through the municipality of Jawornik Polski, covers 38 kilometres and takes about twelve hours to walk. The distances and stated walking time help you estimate how long these two hiking options will take; the time given for the blue trail is approximate.

Specific routes are also listed for cycling trips. The Kańczuga–Lipnik–Manasterz cycling trail is 22 kilometres long, while the Hucisko Jawornickie–Jawornik Polski–Hadle Szklarskie cycling trail is 20 kilometres long. This gives you a choice of two routes of different lengths. The figures refer to the length of each cycling trail; you can use them as a separate point of comparison alongside the hiking route information when planning.

The narrow-gauge railway route

Another distinctive feature of the county is the Pogórzanin narrow-gauge railway. Its route runs for 46 kilometres from Przeworsk through Jawornik Polski to Dynów. Near Szklary, it passes through a 602-metre-long railway tunnel. The route and tunnel provide another way to orient yourself in the area, whether your plans focus more on hiking trails, cycling routes or historic sites.

Churches and monasteries with different histories

The wooden All Saints’ Church, built in 1676, stands in Siennów. It contains Baroque altars and two well-preserved frescoes in the sacristy. In the 17th century, the church in Nowosielce served a different purpose: it was used as a fortification and successfully repelled Tatar attacks. The Greek Catholic Church of St Michael is located in Krzeczowice; its possible construction dates are given as 1770 or 1793.

Przeworsk has further historic buildings, each with its own features. The Gothic Bernardine church and monastery date from the 15th century; the complex preserves a section of the defensive wall. The Basilica of the Holy Spirit was built between 1430 and 1473. The Sanctuary of the Holy Sepulchre contains a replica of Christ’s tomb in Jerusalem, dating from 1712. These buildings offer different perspectives on the town’s religious and architectural history.

Museums and castle sites

An exhibition at the museum in Przeworsk is devoted to the history of the town and region: it presents the history, traditions and material culture of Przeworsk and its surroundings. The archaeological collection includes finds from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and early Middle Ages. The subject matter therefore ranges from local and regional history to several widely separated periods.

Castle sites also add to the area’s cultural heritage. The Dzieduszycki Palace in Zarzecze was built in 1817–1819. The Romantic Park there is home to imposing oak trees; the oldest are about 500 years old. In Przeworsk, the Lubomirski family’s palace and park complex includes a manor house dating from 1799–1807, now used as a museum. The park, palace and manor house bring historic buildings and old trees into your travel plans.

Plan your stay around your interests

When looking for a hotel, you can start by deciding what you want your trip to focus on: nature areas, specific hiking and cycling routes, the railway line, or historic buildings and collections.

The wider setting: Podkarpackie Voivodeship

Within the broader travel destination of Podkarpackie, the Podkarpackie Voivodeship lies across three physiographic provinces: the Western Carpathians, including the Podkarpacie region; the Eastern Carpathians; and the Polish Uplands. Protected areas cover almost 50 percent of the voivodeship. These figures describe the wider regional setting; the routes, places and protected areas mentioned above are in Przeworsk County.

Discover more destinations

Kańczuga, Przeworsk, Sieniawa, Gać, Zarzecze, Łańcut, Przemyski, Jasielski

For the overview of the wider travel destination: Podkarpackie.