Attractions and Places To See around gmina Biłgoraj - Top 20

Parish church, dedicated to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, built in 1766 from the foundation of Teresa Zamoyska, née Michowska, voivode of Lublin. Restored and enlarged in 1882 (extended), the current polychrome from that time. In 1949, the roof covering was changed from shingles to sheet metal. Oriented. Wooden, log construction, boarded, on a stone foundation with a shingled apron. Rectangular, four-bay nave, with a single-bay chancel closed on three sides, with a sacristy and a treasury on the north and south sides. By the nave on the west side, a spacious women's gallery with a porch, probably from 1882, a second porch on the south. Inside, apparent barrel vaults supported by three pairs of columns, between which arcade openings. Profiled chancel beam with a Baroque crucifix from the 18th century. Choir supported on two pillars, with a parapet projecting diagonally on the sides. Original roof truss preserved. Gable roofs with three ridges with a turret for a bell above the nave, once covered with shingles, currently covered with sheet metal; above the sacristy and the treasury, lecterns, slightly raised.

The "WIRA" dugout is a reconstruction of part of a partisan camp operating during World War II. This is exactly where the dugout was located, serving as a weapons depot and a place of refuge for members of Lieutenant Konrad Bartoszewski's unit - alias "WIR". Lieutenant "WIR" was the author of the plan that went down in history as the "Battle of Osuchami" - the largest partisan battle of the AK units. The dugout was created thanks to members of the Historical Reconstruction Group, who decided to rebuild this place. Konrad Bartoszewski, alias "Wir", "Zadora", "Łada", lieutenant of the AK, writer (born July 5, 1914 in Baranówka in Volhynia, died April 21, 1987 in Lublin) - commander of a partisan unit operating near Józefów (Biłgoraj district) during World War II. He studied Polish studies at the University of Warsaw. Participant of the September Campaign, he ended his fight on September 24 near Tomaszów Lubelski. After the defeat of the campaign, he settled in Józefów, in the area where he began his underground activity in the Home Army. He became the commander of the Józefów District, his unit fought many battles with the Germans. On February 25, 1943, he was arrested, but after a daring action, he was rescued by the unit of Czesław Mużacz, pseudonym "Selim". The next day, in retaliation, the Germans publicly shot Bartoszewski's family - parents Janina and Wacław and sister Wienisława. In the Sturmwind II action, he was the commander of the Home Army partisan group and the author of the battle plan for Osuchy. He survived as one of the few Polish commanders taking part in this battle. After the Red Army entered Poland, he and his unit did not surrender. On January 28, 1945, he attacked the UB-NKVD prison in Biłgoraj and rescued imprisoned members of the Home Army. The unit was disbanded in August 1945. Bartoszewski himself settled in Warsaw; he came out in 1945. In 1952 he was arrested, in 1955 he was released due to poor health. In 1969 he received a doctorate in humanities from the University of Wrocław.

The Zwierzyniec Brewery is a historic brewery from the early 19th century located in Zwierzyniec. The owner of the plant is the State Treasury, and the lessee – Perła – Browary Lubelskie. The brewery in Zwierzyniec was founded as part of the Zamoyski Family Fee Tariff by Stanisław Kostka Zamoyski at the beginning of the 19th century. The first buildings, which included a single-storey brewing plant, cellars, warehouses, a cooperage and a coach house, were built in 1805–1806 on the site of the former Zamoyski residence. The masonry work was supervised by master Grzegorz Szostakiewicz, and the Scottish brewer John McDonald was responsible for starting beer production. In 1806–1810, English porter-type beer was brewed there. In 1810, the brewery burned down. However, it was quickly rebuilt from the destruction. In 1834–1836, it was expanded and modernized. At that time, it was equipped with a steam engine, and a mill for grinding malt was set up in the new wing. From the 1840s, the plant was leased by the Zamość Estate. In the years 1866–1878, it suspended operations. Most of its equipment was sold. In 1878, after another expansion and the purchase of new equipment, it was reopened.

When visiting Topólcza, it is worth stopping by the local church, which has an interesting, multicultural history. Originally an Orthodox church, later a Uniate church, it eventually became a Catholic church. The church's architecture features elements of the Byzantine style. Inside, the 17th-century painting of the Virgin Mary and Child and the polychromes made in 2002 are worthy of note. The area around Topólcza offers peaceful bike paths, perfect for a contemplative ride.

The Bojary Reservoir in Biłgoraj is a small but charming reservoir, a popular place for recreation for residents and tourists. You can swim here, rent a kayak or a water bike, and also use the sandy beach and recreational infrastructure. There are walking and cycling paths around the reservoir, ideal for active recreation. In the summer, various outdoor events take place here, and there are catering outlets nearby. It is a great place to relax after sightseeing in Roztocze or an active bike trip around Biłgoraj.

The brewery is open to visitors, and you can also grab a tasting ;)

A treat for beer lovers.

In Topólcza, there was originally an Orthodox parish belonging to the Chełm diocese. The first mentions date back to the mid-16th century. After the Brest Synod in 1596, the Orthodox church in Topólcza became a Uniate (Greek Catholic) church of the Nativity of the Mother of God. After the fall of the January Uprising in 1864, when the wave of Russification in the Kingdom of Poland intensified, Tsar Alexander II Romanov abolished the union, forcing the Greek Catholics to convert to Orthodoxy in 1875. At that time, the parish priest in Topólcza was Fr. Jan Grzegorzewski, who submitted to the Tsar's order. In 1906, Vladimir Galikowski, another Orthodox parish priest in Topólcza, began efforts to build a brick church, the plans of which were made by the architect Aleksander Puring. The construction of the church in 1911, funded by the Paschałow family, was led by the brothers Gerwazy and Stanisław Kaczorowski from Warsaw. As a result of World War I, the Orthodox population in Topólcza and the surrounding area decreased significantly. At the end of June 1915, the last Orthodox priest, together with most of his faithful, fled from the approaching Austrian troops into the depths of Russia, and in 1917 the Austrians handed the church over to the Catholic Church. On April 5, 1919, the Bishop of Lublin, Marian Leon Fulman, established a Roman Catholic parish in Topólcza, appointing Fr. Jan Makulec as its parish priest. In May 1919, the so-called reconciliation of the temple took place, which was carried out by the dean from Szczebrzeszyn. The parish church in Topólcza, single-nave, in the Byzantine style, is built of red brick. There are two sacristies by the presbytery, and a tower with a porch on the pediment. Inside, there are wooden altarpieces for the main altar and two side altarpieces, adapted in 1919-1920 from its former furnishings. During the reconstruction of the church in the interwar period, among other things, the domes were removed and the roof was rebuilt. In the altarpiece of the main altar, there is a painting (icon) of the Mother of God with Child, painted on wood by Lviv painters, with a gilded dress from the first half of the 17th century. In the side altar, on the right side, there is a painting of St. Isidore the Orach, painted in 1927 in Warsaw, and on the left - a painting of the Sacred Heart of the Lord Jesus. The altars were rebuilt in 1969. In 2002, the painter Janusz Szpyt from Lubaczów created a polychrome in the church. At that time, the following icons were found: the Nativity of the Mother of God, an angel with a tablet with 12 feasts, the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, and Orthodox saints (patrons of the founders of the church). A scene of the offering of the Mother of God was painted on the ceiling of the presbytery, and the figures of the four evangelists with attributes (St. John - eagle, St. Luke - ox, St. Mark - lion, and St. Matthew - angel). Above the altars of the side altars were paintings of the Servants of God: John Paul II and Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński. In 2003, two stained glass windows were installed in the presbytery: Jesus the Merciful and Our Lady of the Sowing. Sculptures created during the annual Roztocze sculpture open-airs were placed around the temple. In 2005, the relics of St. Isidore were brought from the Vatican to the church in Topólcza. To commemorate the pilgrimage of the copy of the Image of Our Lady of Częstochowa and the 85th anniversary of the parish, a new belfry was built in 2004, which currently houses bells named Józef and Mary, consecrated on October 20, 1957 by the dean of Szczebrzeszyn, Fr. Stanisław Szepietowski.