Rzyki: Hiking Trails, Ski Area and Local History

Rzyki offers several distinct attractions for a stay: mountain hiking trails, cycling routes, winter sports and historical sites. When choosing a hotel, you can consider whether hiking, cycling or skiing will shape your itinerary. The Church of St. James and the region’s weaving history also offer insight into the history of the area.

Hiking Trails and Routes

The Ścieżka Czarny Groń educational trail is about 7.5 km long and starts and ends at the Czarny Groń centre in Rzyki. Its route passes through the Pracica stream valley and over Smrekowica, Łamana Skała and Potrójna. It takes in different ecosystems, mainly woodland landscapes, as well as interesting rock formations. The description therefore includes a specific starting and finishing point, as well as several named stops and landscape features.

Rzyki also provides direct access to mountain hiking trails towards Leskowiec and Groń Jana Pawła II. Another type of route is the 18 km cycling route from Andrychów: it passes through Rzyki Centrum and Rzyki Praciaki before returning to Andrychów. This route therefore includes both of the named parts of Rzyki and Andrychów, while the mountain hiking trails are described as leading towards Leskowiec and Groń Jana Pawła II.

Another option is the Beskidzka Droga św. Jakuba, the Way of St. James through the Beskids. The trail is almost 300 km long; a section of it can be covered in Rzyki on foot or by mountain bike. The stated length refers to the route through the Beskids as a whole, not just to a section in Rzyki. This makes it possible to distinguish by scale and route a trail that starts and ends in Rzyki, a longer cycling route that starts and ends in Andrychów, and part of a long-distance Way of St. James.

Winter Sports and Accommodation

The Czarny Groń ski area in Rzyki has four illuminated downhill runs and modern ski lifts. The Czarny Groń ski school offers lessons with qualified instructors for people of all ages, regardless of their prior experience. Both the downhill runs and ski lessons are therefore specific options for a stay focused on winter sports.

Czarny Groń offers accommodation at the Hotel**** & SPA, in an inn, in slope-side lodgings and in houses for six people. These options differ; the list includes other types of accommodation in addition to the hotel.

Church and Regional History

The Church of St. James in Rzyki was built between 1793 and 1796. It was founded by Princess Apolonia Potocka, the heiress to the Zator estates. Among its most valuable furnishings are a Gothic sculpture dating from 1400 and another sculpture from the 16th century. Both works therefore predate the construction of the church; the Gothic sculpture is specifically dated to 1400.

The history of weaving also extends beyond the village. After the First Partition of Poland in 1772, there were 700 weaving workshops in Andrychów and the surrounding villages, including Rzyki. They exported locally made cloth to Europe and Asia. The figure refers to Andrychów and the surrounding villages collectively, not to Rzyki alone. The area is thus part of a regional history of cloth production and trade.

Travel Planning Timetable

The Andrychów municipal transport operator runs Line 7, which serves Rzyki, and provides a timetable for download. As route assignments can change, check the timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Jaszczurowa, Mucharz, Witanowice, Klecza Górna, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, Gorzeń Górny, Klecza Dolna, Bęczyn.

For the main travel overview: Wadowice.