Bełchatów County: Nature, cycling routes and history

In Bełchatów County, extensive woodland and numerous bodies of water provide excellent conditions for tourism and active recreation. Six cycling routes offer the opportunity to actively explore the region’s natural and recreational attractions. The area also features places with a variety of themes: green spaces and gardens, sports facilities, and buildings and landmarks associated with regional history. When planning your trip, you can consider nature, exercise and culture as separate or combined interests.

Cycling routes in the city and region

In Bełchatów, the green corridor along the Rakówka connects the districts of Binków, Słoneczne, Edwardów, Okrzei and Budowlanych with the city centre. It serves as a route for pedestrians and cyclists. There is also a paved cycle path connecting Bełchatów with the Wawrzkowizna and Słok recreation centres. The six cycling routes cover the county as a whole, while the green corridor and the cycle path are specific routes with named locations. When planning, you can therefore choose between a route close to the city and the regional cycling network. The course of the green corridor and the surface and maintenance conditions of the paved path may change; check the current situation in advance.

Garden and viewpoint

Jabłoniowy Sad, on Okrzei Street, has apple trees of ten varieties, seven types of fruit bushes and grapevines growing on wooden pergolas. The combination of trees, bushes and vines gives the garden a distinct botanical focus. The observation terrace in Kleszczów, at the end of Szkolna Street, offers a different perspective: it gives visitors a view of the vast Bełchatów open-pit mine. A diverse collection of plants and a sweeping view of the mine thus cater to different interests.

Buildings and history

The municipality of Bełchatów is home to several distinct historic sites. The ruins of the fortified manor in Mikorzyce stand on a small island hill surrounded by a moat. The wooden branch church of St Roch in Postękalice was built in 1737. The palace and park complex in Łękawa includes an approximately square 18th-century palace set amid a park.

The history of fortifications is also represented in the municipality: three of the seventeen surviving reinforced-concrete field bunkers in the Widawka defensive line are located there. The bunkers were built for the “Łódź” Army, starting in June 1939. The dates help place the sites in context: the church was built in 1737, the palace dates from the 18th century, and construction of the field bunkers began in June 1939. Religious architecture, a palace and park complex, and military history can thus be explored as distinct themes of the region.

Sport and other activities

The Powiatowe Centrum Sportu (County Sports Centre) has an indoor swimming pool, a sports hall and a sports field with an artificial surface. In summer, the facilities also include two tennis courts and courts for basketball, handball, volleyball and badminton, as well as table tennis areas with a synthetic surface. Availability of individual facilities may vary. Check the current access arrangements before visiting.

PGE Giganty Mocy offers educational workshops in geology, geography, palaeontology and biology for primary and secondary school students. If you are planning a school visit, check the latest programme details. At the OSiR Wawrzkowizna rope park, the course can be completed independently or with an instructor; check the current supervision arrangements before visiting. The park has two Tyrolean-style zip lines: one is 50 metres long and the other more than 200 metres. Another seasonal activity is the ski slope at the OSiR “Góra Kamieńsk” ski complex: its full length of 760 metres is illuminated. Check the seasonal opening hours before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Brzezie, Bełchatów, Niwy, Kluki, Kleszczów, Rząsawa, Leśniaki, Kamień, Zelów, Rudzisko.

For the main travel overview: Łódź.