Easy hikes and walks around gmina Sokołów Podlaski

In the very heart of Węgrów, in the market square, stands a bench with the figure of Pan Twardowski. It is a symbolic point of the walk, where legend meets the city's history and its urban layout. For centuries, the Węgrów market square has been the center of life: trade, meetings, and events. It is surrounded by the most important buildings, including the monumental Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Węgrów, with which the most famous thread of the Twardowski story is associated – the mirror attributed to the sorcerer. From a geographical perspective, the market square lies on a slight elevation of the plateau, safely above the Liwiec valley. It was precisely this location that favored the establishment of cities: dry, stable, and at the same time close to the river, which provided water, fertile meadows, and communication routes. Sitting next to Twardowski in the market square, one can discern three layers of this place: • historical – the former layout of the chartered city, • legendary – the story of the sorcerer and the mirror in the basilica, • geographical – the relationship of the city with the Liwiec valley. This is a good starting point for a walk: from the center, where the meaning of Węgrów is concentrated, before the road leads towards the river and the open space of the valley.

View from the bridge over the Liwiec River

This is the oldest chapel in Sokołów Podlaski, preserved in its original character with high historical value. The chapel was built in 1806. Jan Nepomucen at Siedlecka Street in Sokołów Podlaski, which is one of the few preserved examples of wooden chapels in our region /From Wikipedia/

In the Węgrów Market Square by the Municipal Public Library, a bench was placed on which Master Jan Twardowski sits holding a magic mirror, there is also an open book in which a text in Polish and English is written translating the Latin inscription on the mirror frame: "Twardowski played with this mirror, performing magic arts, now he is destined to serve God". The bench was made from a cast by the Kruszewski Brothers Bell Foundry in Węgrów. It refers to the legends of the famous Master Twardowski and the Twardowski Mirror, which is located in the Minor Basilica in Węgrów. The mirror was donated to the Węgrów church in the 18th century by the founder of the church, Jan Dobrogost Krasiński.

Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saints Peter, Paul, Andrew and Catherine in Węgrów – parish and collegiate church in Węgrów. Minor basilica since 1997.

every year the Mazovian bread and cheese festival takes place here

if you go down from the bridge you will get to the jetty above the water

Beautiful view from the bridge