Kędzierzyn-Koźle: Cycling Routes, Canals and History

Woodlands, waterways and traces of fortress history shape the impressions of Kędzierzyn-Koźle. Cycling routes offer different lengths and surfaces; in Koźle, the Old Town, market square and former fortifications take centre stage. Museums and Wodne oKKo add to the ways you can tailor your stay to your interests.

Woodland and water on two wheels

The “Dookoła Kędzierzyna-Koźla” route runs through numerous large woodland areas within the city. It is available in variants of 19.7, 28.1 and 47.8 kilometres. Another option is the 40.6-kilometre “Wzdłuż Odry na południe” route: it follows less-travelled municipal roads and well-maintained dirt tracks and can be ridden on touring or leisure bikes. The routes therefore differ both in length and in surface. As route conditions may change seasonally, check them before setting out.

The waterways also give the city a distinctive sense of place. In addition to the Oder, the Kłodnica, the Gliwice Canal, the Kłodnicki Canal and the Kędzierzyński Canal flow through Kędzierzyn-Koźle, along with the smaller Młyńska, Golka, Lineta and Liwela rivers. A boat trip on the Oder and the Kłodnicki Canal, including passage through a lock, is described as one of the greatest tourist attractions of Kędzierzyn-Koźle and the surrounding area. If you plan this trip, check in advance whether it is available on your travel date.

Koźle Old Town and traces of the fortress

Koźle Old Town retains a medieval street plan: its central market square is rectangular, and the Planty were laid out on the site of former fortifications. The market square features historic townhouses and three sculptures of the Kozielskie Koziołki. Opposite them is a fountain featuring a mermaid. Here, you can take in different aspects of the townscape in one place, from the historic layout to the sculptures and fountain.

The “Szlakiem Twierdzy Koźle” route leads to surviving sections of the fortress and sites of former fortifications. On ul. Grzegorza Piramowicza stands the casemate powder magazine, considered the only surviving building of its kind in Silesia. The Kłodnicki Canal also tells the story of the waterways: it was built between 1792 and 1812, and the section running through Kędzierzyn-Koźle is among the best preserved.

City routes and museums

Four CityWalk urban routes are marked out for exploring Kędzierzyn-Koźle at your own pace. The CityWalk signs are complemented by audio guides, which can be borrowed from the city library at Rynek 3. Check the latest borrowing information before your visit. Another walking route, “Szlakiem II wojny światowej”, starts at the “Śląskiej Bitwy o Paliwo Blechhammer – 1944” Museum. The museum is located in the Osiedlowy Dom Kultury LECH in the Blachownia district, ul. Wyzwolenia 7.

The Muzeum Ziemi Kozielskiej is located in the cellar rooms of the former south wing of the Silesian Piast Castle beneath the castle courtyard, as well as in the observation tower. Its permanent exhibition includes prehistoric tools from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages, medieval objects, 17th-century silver coins from the “Skarb z Koźla”, cultural artefacts, and objects and information about Twierdza Koźle. As exhibitions may change, it is advisable to check the latest information before your visit.

Wodne oKKo: pools and sauna area

Wodne oKKo has a children’s pool with a mini slide, water play features and underwater geysers, as well as another pool with massage jets, loungers, a water swing and an underwater geyser. Facilities also include three indoor and one outdoor jacuzzi, a 47-metre slide with timing, a year-round current pool and a sports area with a swimming pool. The sauna area includes a dry sauna for sauna rituals with room for 40 people, a dry sauna with infrared heaters, a herbal dry sauna and a humid flower steam sauna. An ice cave, a cold-water tipping bucket, two cold-water pools, a relaxation room with heated ceramic loungers, an atrium and a juice bar complete the facilities. As amenities may change, check the latest information about the pools and saunas before your visit.

Getting there and choosing a hotel

Kędzierzyn-Koźle is near the A4 motorway; an international railway line and the Oder waterway pass through the city. For specific connections and timetables, check the information for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Zakrzów, Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Pawłowiczki, Grudynia Wielka, Przewóz, Naczysławki, Reinschdorf, Neisse.

Go to the overview of destinations in the region: Opole.