The best traffic-free bike rides around Piekoszów

Piekoszów can be an interesting stop on a bicycle route around Kielce. There are ruins of Jan Aleksander Tarło's palace, which was almost a copy of the Kielce bishops' palace. Although only a ruin without a roof remains of the former residence, you can still see the layout of the rooms. The history of the palace's construction is connected with an anecdote about Tarło's rivalry with the bishop of Kraków. The building is publicly accessible, but unfortunately neglected, but it can still be an interesting point on the map for history lovers.

The Miedzianka Mountains Nature Reserve is one of the most picturesque places in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, famous for its limestone rocks and former ore mining. At the top of the mountain (356 m above sea level) there are remains of former shafts and adits, as well as viewpoints with a panorama of the surrounding hills and valleys. The reserve is a great place for lovers of geology, nature and history - you can see rare xerothermic plants and traces of copper mining dating back to ancient times. The routes lead through rocky paths, so it is worth having solid footwear. This is a great destination for cycling and hiking, combining the beauty of nature with the fascinating history of the region.

The Museum Chamber of Ores Mining in Miedzianka is a small but extremely interesting place that presents the history of copper and lead ore mining in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains. Miedzianka was once an important mining center, and in the chamber you can see old tools, maps and exhibits related to underground work. Visiting the museum is a great opportunity to learn about the forgotten history of the region and climb Mount Miedzianka, from where there is a beautiful view of the area. It is a great stop on a cycling or hiking route around Ponidzie. It is worth taking a flashlight if you plan to explore the old adits in the area.

Very interesting description of the history of the palace - > https://www.zamkipolskie.com/piekut/piekut.html

It is especially worth coming here in autumn for sunrise 😉

In Piekoszów, which belongs to the Odrowąż family, the first parish church of St. James the Apostle was built in 1366. This temple survived until the nineteenth century. In 1807, the parish priest, Fr. Bernard Bzinkowski started the construction of a new church. Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church was consecrated by Antoni Ksawery Sotkiewicz, Bishop of Sandomierz, in 1884. It is a three-aisle temple, made of stone and brick, with two high towers. Inside, there is an image of the Sorrowful Christ in a silver dress from the 18th century and a late-Baroque stone baptismal font from the 18th century. and main and organs. The church in Piekoszów is the regional Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy. The greatest cult is the Baroque painting of Our Lady of Mercy, famous for its graces, painted in 1691–1693.

The Royal Castle in Chęciny was erected on the ridge of a rocky hill (367 meters above sea level), probably at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, on the initiative of Wenceslaus II, the king of Czech and Poland. The first references to the castle date back to 1306, when in a document issued by Władysław Łokietek, the castle (Latin: castrum nostrum ducale) together with 11 villages was to be handed over to the bishop of Krakow, Jan Muskata. The clergyman was a political opponent of Łokietek, whom Piast wanted to win over to his side, but the planned diplomatic operation backfired, so already in 1307 the stronghold re-entered the royal domain. From this period there is also a mention of the first castle official in charge of the Chęciny stronghold, named Wrocław [Latin: Wroclaw].

Formed in the Middle Ages, it served as a trade settlement (fairs, fairs). Around the market square there are buildings dating back to the 15th century. Noteworthy tenement houses of Fodyga and Kozubkiewicz in the western part and a former well. The town hall from 1837 dominates the Market Square - currently the Commune and Town Office in Chęciny. The market square is a place with numerous gastronomy and accommodation facilities.