Stróżówka – Military Cemeteries and Folk Art

• Five First World War military cemeteries lie along the Gorlice–Moszczenica road: four to the west and one to the east of the road.
• The cemeteries are part of the Szlak Cmentarzy Wojskowych z I Wojny Światowej, the First World War Military Cemeteries Trail.
• Roadside chapels and crosses are common, well preserved, and maintained by local residents.
• Local craftspeople are known throughout the surrounding area as potters and blacksmiths.

The five First World War cemeteries lie along the Gorlice–Moszczenica road. Four are to the west and one to the east of the road. This gives you a clear sense of their locations, while the Szlak Cmentarzy Wojskowych z I Wojny Światowej also connects the cemeteries through a shared theme.

When planning your trip, you can distinguish between two aspects: the location of the five cemeteries along the road and their inclusion on the named trail.

In Stróżówka, you will often come across chapels and roadside crosses that are examples of folk religious art. They are well preserved and cared for by local residents. This brings together two features: religious folk art in the village landscape and the care taken by the people who maintain these structures.

Craftsmanship is another part of the area’s cultural character. Local craftspeople are known throughout the surrounding area as excellent potters and blacksmiths. Pogórze customs and traditions are passed on to the younger generation through a branch of the Gorlice Municipality Cultural Center and the Rural Housewives’ Circle. Public art, craftsmanship, and the passing on of traditions thus represent different facets of local culture.

In the wider Gorlice area, Szymbark complements Stróżówka’s local themes with its museum, architecture, and nature. The Skansen Wsi Pogórzańskiej open-air museum offers exhibitions, museum education classes and workshops, educational programs, and outdoor events. The buildings of a historic foothill village there include cottages, a blacksmith’s workshop, windmills, an oil mill, barns, and a stable.

The castell in Szymbark also offers a distinct historical perspective: it dates back to the first half of the 16th century, and acquired its present Renaissance form in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The roadside chapels and crosses in Stróżówka can therefore be considered alongside the open-air museum and historic building in Szymbark when exploring regional culture.

Those interested in nature and landscapes can follow the “Szlakiem Architektury Drewnianej” nature and education trail in Szymbark. It runs from the church in Wólka to Beskidzkie Morskie Oko. The Jelenia Góra nature reserve is also in Szymbark. These attractions add another dimension to Stróżówka’s cultural character without being equated with its cemeteries or roadside crosses.

Discover more destinations: Lipinki, Czarne, Klimkówka, Sękowa, Szymbark, Korczyna, Kunkowa and Gorlice.

How many First World War military cemeteries are there in Stróżówka?

There are five. Four lie to the west and one to the east of the Gorlice–Moszczenica road; the cemeteries are part of the Szlak Cmentarzy Wojskowych z I Wojny Światowej.

Which traditions are passed on in Stróżówka?

Pogórze customs and traditions are passed on to the younger generation through a branch of the Gorlice Municipality Cultural Center and the Rural Housewives’ Circle.

Which trail in Szymbark leads to Beskidzkie Morskie Oko?

The “Szlakiem Architektury Drewnianej” nature and education trail leads from the church in Wólka to Beskidzkie Morskie Oko.

For the overview of the wider area: Gorlice.