Rzeszów afternoon · Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Vi

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Rzeszów

   Rzeszów is the largest city in south-eastern Poland and the capital of the Podkarpackie region, a place that has grown fast and looks cheerful about it. The old market square has a Renaissance town hall and arcaded houses, and underneath it a network of cellars and passages has been opened to visitors as an underground route. The Lubomirski family built the castle that stands at the edge of the centre, and the area was long a crossroads of Polish, Ukrainian, Jewish and Carpathian culture. A strong aviation industry gives the city the nickname of the capital of Poland's Aviation Valley, and a fair number of its young people work in engineering.

   Read the complete Rzeszow write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Rzeszów is where the day begins. Next is Church of All Saints.

2. 2. Church of All Saints

   Blizne, in the green rolling country of the Subcarpathian region, has one of the oldest wooden churches in Poland, and you can see its age before you step inside. The Church of All Saints dates in its main structure from the late fifteenth century, built of larch and fir logs, with a steep shingled roof that sweeps nearly to the ground and a slender tower that seems to grow out of the nave. It is a classic of the Gothic wooden tradition that spread across the Carpathian foothills, and in 2013 it joined the UNESCO list of wooden churches of the Carpathian region.

   Read the complete Church of All Saints write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Church of All Saints comes up about 45 km into the recorded legs. Next is Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Vi.

3. 3. Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Vi

   Haczów, a village in the foothills of the Carpathians in southeastern Poland, has a church that is considered the largest Gothic wooden church in Europe, and one of the oldest. Built in the fifteenth century, probably on the site of an earlier church, the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Michael the Archangel is a massive structure of larch logs, with a steep shingled roof and a bell tower, standing among old trees. Inside, the walls are covered with polychrome paintings, the oldest from the late fifteenth century, showing saints, biblical scenes and decorative patterns, and the atmosphere is dim, warm and fragrant with old wood. In 2003 the church was listed by UNESCO among the Wooden Churches of Southern Małopolska, along with five others in the region. It is still used for worship, so check visiting times and dress respectfully.

   Read the complete Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Vi write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   about 54 km into the recorded legs you reach Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Vi. Next is back through Church of All Saints.

4. 4. back through Church of All Saints

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Church of All Saints write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through Church of All Saints, late in the day. Next is Rzeszow.

5. 5. Rzeszów

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Rzeszow write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Back at Rzeszow. That is the ride.