The best traffic-free bike rides around Ostrów Wielkopolski

A short walk along wooden footbridges, the rustle of reeds, and blissful peace – time slows down here. An ideal stop on a cycling loop or family hike.

A very nice church with a bicycle path next to it

It is worth paying attention as you pass through, there may be broken glass.

The parish of St. Joseph in Janków Przygodzki has existed since 1933 and is located in a characteristic, elliptical brick church, built in the neo-Baroque style. The temple stands out from the surrounding buildings with its unusual architectural form.

The Piaski–Szczygliczka Sports and Recreation Centre in Ostrów Wielkopolski is a vast recreational area with numerous attractions, located on a reservoir among forests. Here you will find a guarded beach, a wake park, a rope park, playgrounds, walking and cycling paths and a viewing tower. In the summer, there is a swimming area and a water equipment rental, and the entire area is well-developed and adapted for family recreation.

The Lipski Palace in Lewków is one of the earliest examples of classicist architecture in Wielkopolska, built in the late 18th century according to the design of Jan Kamsetzer. The building impresses with its harmonious shape, rotunda garden hall and rich decoration - both on the elevations and in the interiors, where you can admire the illusionistic paintings of the Smuglewicz family. It is surrounded by a restored landscape park in the English style with a rosarium, pond and icehouse. Today, the palace serves as a museum and cultural centre, and thanks to its modern facilities, it is also a place for cultural events.

The church was built in the years 1844-1846. It was founded by a noblewoman, Salomea née Obiezierska, and her grandson, Wojciech Lipski. In the years 1898-1900, the polychromes in the presbytery, stucco wall coverings and a marble tabernacle were made (destroyed by the Germans during World War II and later rebuilt). In 1950, the church received three bells, and in the years 1949-1953 new plasters and electricity. In 1960 and 1976, it was repainted, and a thorough restoration was carried out in the years 1991-1992.

The Evangelical Church in Odolanów was built of wood in a skeleton structure with brick filling in the years 1777-1780 with the significant support of the then owner of the Odolanów estate – August Sułkowski from Rydzyna. Work on the interior decoration was carried out until 1782. At the beginning of the 19th century, the condition of the church was described as poor. In 1818, the building inspector Schneider in Ostrów Wielkopolski was informed about the need to carry out renovation works. The Evangelical community turned to the von Thurn und Taxis family, the then owner of the Krotoszyn and Odolanów estates, for help. The first to carry out renovations was the roof in 1826, and two years later the interior of the church was painted. During the times of pastor Bertold Harhausen, during renovations carried out in the years 1875-1876 and 1892-1893, the skeleton structure of the walls was replaced with a brick one. In addition, the wooden sacristy was dismantled at that time and a new one was built in its place, adding two cylindrical turrets topped with bulbous domes. After pastor Wiele took over the parish in 1896, a belfry was built, and the church itself was equipped with electrical and water installations and surrounded by a stone fence. In 1912, Berlin painters Belling and Zabel made new painted interior decorations, using elements of the original polychrome they had discovered. After 1945, the church remained unused until 1954, when it was reopened for a short time. In 1980, the church was taken over by the City and Commune Office in Odolanów. It currently houses an art gallery.