The best gravel rides around gmina Bielice

A large shelter for the whole peloton

The Brama Bańska (Bańska Gate) in Pyrzyce is a medieval defensive structure, erected in the southern part of the former city walls, along the route leading towards Banie and Myślibórz. Its oldest part was built between 1260 and 1270, and the gate was subsequently expanded in the 15th and 16th centuries. Originally, it was much taller – it consisted of a four-story, quadrangular base and an octagonal superstructure topped with a pyramidal spire. The brick facades were decorated with blind windows, friezes, and loopholes, and the passage was closed by a pointed arch portal. As a result of the fighting in 1945, the gate was severely damaged and lost its upper part. Today, you can see its four-story lower fragment, which, after conservation, remains one of the most characteristic monuments of the medieval fortifications of Pyrz

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pyrzyce is a monumental Gothic temple, the construction of which began in the second half of the 13th century. Originally dedicated to St. Maurice, its current form is the result of several stages of expansion – the brick nave was built in the 14th century, while the ambulatory and chapels were added in the 15th century. A characteristic element of the building is the unusual eastern tower, rarely seen in the Gothic architecture of Pomerania. The church was destroyed by fires many times, and in February 1945 it was seriously damaged during the fighting for the city - the vaults and the upper part of the western tower collapsed. Reconstruction began in 1958 and was carried out in stages over the following years. The temple is one of the most important monuments of Gothic sacred architecture in Pyrzyce.

The Owl Tower (Baszta Sowia, also known as the Prison Tower) in Pyrzyce is a medieval defensive tower that is part of the city's fortifications. Its origins date back to the mid-14th century, when it was built on the base of an earlier, semicircular watchtower. In the 16th century, it was extended with an octagonal drum, gaining its characteristic cylindrical silhouette. The ground floor housed a prison dungeon, while the upper floors served observation and defensive functions – the tower was equipped with loopholes and a combat platform topped with battlements. Its hallmark is a deviation from the vertical by about 30 cm, which occurred in the 19th century due to ground subsidence. The name "Sowia" (Owl) became popular later and refers to owls that were said to inhabit the abandoned structure.

The Cistercian Abbey in Kołbacz was founded in 1173 by the foundation of the castellan of Szczecin, Warcisław II Świętoborzyc. The first monks arrived a year later from the Danish monastery in Esrom, and Kołbacz became one of the most important Cistercian centers in Pomerania, later establishing branches in, among others, Oliwa and Bierzwnik. The most valuable element of the complex is the monumental Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, built from 1210 to 1347. The temple combines late Romanesque and early Gothic forms, and its brick construction belongs to the earliest examples of monumental brick architecture in Pomerania. After the secularization of the monastery in 1535, the buildings were taken over by the Pomeranian dukes, and the nave of the church was transformed into a granary. To this day, among others, the Gothic House of Conversi, the Abbot's House, the Prison Tower, and a 15th-century barn, originally a sheepfold, have been preserved. The entire complex, which is a testament to the economic and cultural power of the medieval Cistercians, was recognized as a Historical Monument in 2014.

Church of St. Maksymilian Maria Kolbe. The temple was built in the 14th century on a rectangular plan with irregular fieldstones, of various sizes and shapes.

Nicely developed area by Lake Dłużec. There is a shelter by the pier, a place to rest, and right next to it an outdoor gym and a playground.

Good spot for a break when passing through Banie. The gym and playground are right by the lake, and there's also plenty of space to stop with your bike next to it.