Attractions and Places To See around gmina gmina Góra - Top 20

After the great city fire of 1457, construction began on a brick, three-nave church in the Gothic style. This construction, interrupted by subsequent fires (including one in 1478), lasted until the first half of the 16th century (around 1552). The church was built on a hill, integrated into the city's defensive walls. Reconstructions after the fires (18th century): The church was repeatedly destroyed. A fire in 1759 (started by Russian troops) caused significant damage. The reconstruction, during which the church gained Baroque domes on the towers and Baroque interior furnishings (which survive to this day), was completed in 1763.

The castle grounds are publicly accessible.

The stadium opened in 1977 and has been primarily used for speedway racing since its inception. It is one of the most important and well-known speedway stadiums in Poland. In front of the stadium stands a statue of Alfred Smoczyk – an outstanding Polish speedway rider, the 1949 Polish champion, who tragically died in a motorcycle accident. He was associated with Leszno and the Unia Leszno club.

Beginnings (14th century): The original castle in Chobień was built in the first half of the 14th century, probably by Duke Henry IV the Faithful or his son Henry V the Iron. It was a Gothic defensive structure, strategically located on the left bank of the Oder, controlling the crossing. The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) brought about the castle's decline. It was repeatedly occupied and destroyed by imperial and Swedish troops. After the war, despite attempts to rebuild it, the castle never regained its former glory.

Rydzyna Castle: A Pearl of the Baroque in the Wielkopolska Land The castle in Rydzyna, located in the Wielkopolska Lowlands, is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved Baroque palace complexes in Poland. Its history is a testament to the power and ambition of the magnate families that shaped it over the centuries. The beginnings of the Rydzyna stronghold date back to the 14th century. At that time, it was a medieval defensive castle, built by the Wierzbna family, and later owned by the Rydzyński family. In 1685, Rydzyna was acquired by Rafał Leszczyński, the then Grand Treasurer of the Crown and Voivode of Poznań. He was the one who began a thorough reconstruction of the castle from a Gothic stronghold into a modern, Baroque residence. The works, carried out by the outstanding architect Józef Bellotti, transformed the castle into a four-winged structure with an internal courtyard, surrounded by a moat and bastions. The castle reached its greatest splendor during the reign of Rafał's son, Stanisław Leszczyński, the future King of Poland and father-in-law of the French King Louis XV. Stanisław, although he did not reign long, made Rydzyna an important center of culture and art, gathering valuable collections and hosting distinguished artists. During this period, the castle became a true pearl of Baroque architecture, modeled on French residences. In 1738, after Stanisław Leszczyński's abdication, the castle in Rydzyna fell into the hands of the Sułkowski family. During this period, the castle gained new, Rococo interiors, and other outstanding architects were hired to work on it, including Karol Marcin Frantz and Ignacy Graff. At that time, representative halls were created, such as the Ballroom and the Knights' Hall, richly decorated with stucco and paintings. The Sułkowskis were also patrons of art and science, which contributed to the flourishing of cultural life in Rydzyna. The 19th century brought a decline in the castle's glory. After a fire in 1817, which destroyed part of the interior, the castle never regained its former glory. The Sułkowskis' estate fell into decline, and in 1909 they sold the castle to the Prussian state. The building then served as a school and boarding school. The greatest destruction was brought by World War II. In 1945, during the fighting, the castle was burned down and destroyed again, remaining in ruins for many decades. It was not until the 1970s that a decision was made to comprehensively rebuild the castle. Reconstruction work, carried out with extraordinary attention to detail and based on archival plans, lasted until the 1990s. The castle is currently owned by the Association of Polish Mechanical Engineers and Technicians (SIMP), which adapted it to a conference and hotel center. Rydzyna Castle once again delights with its architecture and interiors, being a living testimony to the rich history of Polish magnates. Numerous cultural events are organised here, and the castle is open to visitors, allowing you to admire its Baroque splendour.

During his career he represented LKM Unia Leszno and CWKS Warszawa. Individual Polish Speedway Champion (Leszno, 1949). He died tragically in a motorcycle accident in the Kąkolewski Forest. Since 1951, Leszno has hosted a speedway tournament called the Alfred Smoczyk Memorial, held since 1953 at the stadium named after the speedway rider.

Speedway Stadium in Leszno

Being in Chobienia, I also recommend the war memorial from the Great War period - https://www.pomnikiwojenne.pl/i-wojna-swiatowa/pomnik-poleglych-w-i-wojnie-swiatowej-w-chobieni/