Uszew – Remembrance, Church and Valley Views

Uszew offers several focal points for a stay: remembrance in Las Grabaliny Forest, St. Florian’s Church and a path to fields overlooking the Uszwica Valley. This lets you decide before your trip whether you would like to focus mainly on history and architecture or set aside time for a walk.

Remembrance in Las Grabaliny

In 2003, a marble plaque was erected in Las Grabaliny Forest by the Jewish Community of Kraków and residents of the village. The site is associated with the story of Chaskel Goldberger’s family and Pinkas Federgrin. While they were staying in a bunker in the forest, residents of Uszew helped them; the farmer Wojciech Kotfis is mentioned in particular. This historical chapter therefore includes both those who received help and the residents who provided it.

In August 1944, the hiding place was discovered. Toni Goldberger, her three underage daughters and Pinkas Federgrin were then shot. Naming the three daughters and their ages makes the family dimension of these events visible. Together with Pinkas Federgrin, they put specific people—not an unspecified group—at the center of the story.

Wojciech Kotfis was also killed for helping Jews. His family secretly buried him at night in the parish cemetery. Historical remembrance thus extends beyond the help given in the forest to include the fate of a person who helped and his family’s decision to lay him to rest in secret.

St. Florian’s Church and its architectural styles

St. Florian’s Church in Uszew combines Baroque and Neoclassical styles. This offers a distinct cultural focus for planning your trip, alongside the history of Las Grabaliny. The style terms provide a simple way to classify the architecture: Baroque is often associated with dynamic forms and rich ornamentation, while Neoclassicism tends toward clear order and classical antiquity as a source of inspiration. The church can therefore be viewed as a combination of two distinct design traditions. This subject is particularly suited to travelers interested not only in historical events but also in architecture.

A path overlooking the Uszwica Valley

Near Uszew, a little-used path near the cemetery leads to fields on a hill. The Uszwica Valley can be seen from the fields; the path continues in the direction of Księży Las. Three points are important for orientation: the proximity to the cemetery, the elevated position of the fields with valley views, and the direction the path continues. The fields and the continuation of the path serve different purposes: the valley view is from the fields, while Księży Las indicates the direction in which the path continues. For guests who enjoy walking, this combination of hill, fields and valley views offers a scenic focus clearly distinct from the themes of remembrance and architecture.

If you are looking for a hotel in Uszew, your travel priorities can help guide your choice of location: would you like to explore the history of remembrance, focus on architecture or include a path with valley views in your plans? Then compare the specific details of the offers with what you need for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Łysa Góra, Szczepanów, Mokrzyska, Biesiadki, Czchów, Połom Mały, Brzesko, Iwkowa

Back to the main travel overview: Brzesko.