Zelów: The History of the Bohemian Brethren and Historic Routes

• The first Czech families arrived in Zelów in 1803; the town has the largest concentration of the Czech national minority in Poland.
• The Evangelical Reformed Church was built between 1821 and 1825 to a design by the architect Zille and features Neoclassical styling. It is the first monumental building in Zelów.
• A historic tourist trail has QR-code signs with audio stories; its stops do not have to be visited in any particular order.
• A cycling route starts at Dąbrowski Square; the 41 km blue “Osady Braci Czeskich” trail passes through Zelów.

Zelów has the largest concentration of the Czech national minority in Poland. The first Czech families arrived here in 1803. The town’s history can be traced through various cultural landmarks, from Neoclassical architecture to inscriptions and memorials.

The Evangelical Reformed Church was built between 1821 and 1825 to a design by the architect Zille. Inside are Czech inscriptions and plaques honoring Jan Hus and Jan Kalwin. The cemetery beside the church also has gravestones and monuments bearing Czech inscriptions, including the graves of some of Zelów’s founders.

The Museum of the Bohemian Brethren in Zelów is the documentation center for the history of the Bohemian Brethren at the Evangelical Reformed Congregation. Its permanent exhibition spans the story from the origins in Bohemia through settlement in Zelów and the surrounding area to the present day. The collection includes historic everyday objects, furniture, machines, and weaving equipment such as spindles, spinning wheels, and handlooms.

The homes of former weavers also display a distinctive architectural feature: their attic space projects one meter beyond the building’s main structure. At 15 Dąbrowski Square are a steam mill, a power plant, and a hulling mill.

Memorial plaques add further historical details. One marks the site of a penal camp and commemorates the Nazi occupation. Another commemorates the visit of Czech President Václav Havel.

The historic tourist trail is well suited to a walk with short audio segments about local historical highlights. The QR-code signs can be scanned with a smartphone. They are located at the Evangelical Reformed Cemetery, the stone on Żeromskiego Street, the Church of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the Evangelical Reformed Church, Dąbrowski Square, and the Cultural Center building. The stops do not have to be visited in any particular order. If you plan to listen to the audio segments, check that the signs are available before setting out.

A cycling route starts at Dąbrowski Square, where there is also a monument to Tadeusz Kościuszko. The 41 km blue “Osady Braci Czeskich” trail passes through Zelów. This makes it possible to distinguish the routes by starting point, length, and the stops on the historic audio trail, without combining them into a single route.

A concert by Zelowskie Dzwonki is traditionally held on Easter Monday. If you want to include it in your trip, check the specific event date for your travel year.

Nearby, Łobudzice lies in the Pilsia River valley, about three kilometers from Zelów, on the road from Bełchatów to Zelów.

Discover more destinations: Kamień, Rząsawa, Bełchatów, Brzezie, Kluki, Leśniaki, Rudzisko, Niwy.

Where does the cycling route in Zelów start?

It starts at Dąbrowski Square. The monument to Tadeusz Kościuszko is also located there.

What does the permanent exhibition at the Museum of the Bohemian Brethren cover?

It covers the history from the origins in Bohemia through settlement in Zelów and the surrounding area to the present day.

When is the Zelowskie Dzwonki concert held?

Traditionally on Easter Monday. Check the specific event date for the year of your trip.

Back to the main travel overview: Bełchatowski.