The bicycle route in the Rudniki Commune

The Rudniki Commune, located in Opole Voivodeship, on the edge of Załęcze Landscape Park, is a definition of the Polish traditional rural landscape, and the best way to explore its picturesque  corners is to mount a bike and follow a tourist bicycle route. The bicycle route runs through nine localities and is marked with bicycle signs and information boards.

The route starts on a sports field in Rudniki and follows to many other charming villages. While cycling on dirt roads running through forests and fields, we have a chance to see many interesting trees, such as the enormous elm in Rudniki that has a cirmumference of 4,2m, basswoods, the oak in Żytniów, planted for the first anniversary of the death of Józef Piłsudski. Details on those, as well as the species of birds we can observe in the area (for example swallows, hoopoes, common cranes, pheasants, robins, blackbirds) can be found on the numerous information boards. They also contain many facts from the history of the Rudniki Commune.

Some of the most interesting places and things that can be seen and explored during the bicycle trip include:

·         The artificial lake in Młyny. Surrounded by forests and clearings, the artificial lake and the small sandy beach are where the commune’s inhabitants, as well as the visitors of all ages, spend hot summer days and evenings.

·         The wooden church in Jaworzno. The Holy Trinity Church was built at the beginning of the 16th century and was remodeled and renovated many times over the years, a couple of chapels and the bell tower were added. In spite of being located nearby Silesia, the church was not built on the silesian territory and therefore it differs from silesian wooden churches, looking more like those form the Greater Poland.

·         The wooden church in Żytniów. St. Martin’s Church was built in Trzcinica and in 1817 it was deconstructed, given to the parish in Żytniów as a gift and rebuilt there. Soon the crypts and the underground passage were built under the church. The temple is an example of the Gothic Revival architecture. Nearby there is a replica of the grotto from Lourdes, with the statue of St. Bernadette inside.

·        The manor house in Stary Bugaj. The neoclassical manor house was built in 1832. Not much is known about its history and today it is a private property, but the manor house and the small grove with a pond right next to it are definitely worth seeing.

·         The sculptures of the prehistoric marine reptiles in Cieciułów. Millions of years ago, the lands of today’s Rudniki Commune were hidden deep under the Jurrasic sea, which was inhabited by many mysterious and awe-inspiring creatures. In spite of being long-extinct, nowadays some of them are back – as the sculptures. The models of a plesiosaurus, a hybodus, a cryptoclidus and a saurichthys are located on the fenced pond, therefore they can only be admired from the distance and cannot be touched. However, children may try to find the dinosaur skeleton buried in the nearby sandpit. And it does not matter that the skeleton is not real – they will certainly feel like real archaeologists.

·        The ammonites in the brickyard in Faustianka. Many fossils of those extinct marine mollusc animals have been found ever since the brickyard was opened. They are the evidence of how rich and interesting the Jurrasic ecosystem was. According to many paleontologists, Faustianka is one of the best places in Poland to search for the ammonites and many specimens from there can be seen in geological museums in Poland and Europe. Scientists are sure that there is still much more fossils waiting to be found in the brickyard -  but it is not so easy to find them, and one would need a lot of time and some luck to succeed. Luckily, everyone who visits the Rudniki Commune can see many beautiful ammonites from Faustianka, as they are the part of the exibition in the Natural Curiosities Gallery. The Gallery is located in the building of the library in Rudniki and is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturday.

The bicycle route ends in the park in Rudniki - those who are not too tired after their trip can use the fresh air gym there.

The tourist bicycle route in the Rudniki Commune is certainly nowhere near the top of the list of Polish popular tourist attractions – but this is exactly what makes it so special. After all, what could be better than cycling with family or friends through uncrowded fields and forests, discovering Mother Nature’s wonders and history’s mysteries? Is there a better recipe for a perfect day?

Written by: P.N. 2LAS

Photographs by P.N. 2LAS