Legnicki: Culture, Routes and Lake Kunickie

• The present-day monastery complex in Legnickie Pole was built in the 18th century and is considered a major work of Silesian late Baroque architecture.
• Lake Kunickie covers 95 hectares and offers opportunities for water sports, fishing, swimming and walks along the shore.
• The routes described include the 12-kilometre Szlak Bitwy 1241 roku and the 20-kilometre Szlak Bitwy nad Kaczawą.

The former Benedictine monastery complex in Legnickie Pole was recognised as a Historic Monument of Poland by a decree of the President of Poland dated 14 April 2004. The present-day monastery complex was built in the 18th century and is considered a major work of Silesian late Baroque architecture. The former Church of the Holy Trinity now houses a museum. Legnickie Pole thus brings monastic history and a museum together in a significant historic complex.

Other places offer different points of historical interest. The medieval castle in Prochowice was built around the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries by Stefan of Prochowice. It is surrounded by a preserved English landscape park covering 12.33 hectares. The Piast Castle in Chojnów, home to the Regional Museum, was built around 1290 on the left bank of the Skora.

In Pątnówek, a devotional sculpture of Saint John of Nepomuk dating from the early 18th century stands; in 2010, it was entered in the register of protected monuments of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. The early medieval hillfort site in Krajów, in the municipality of Krotoszyce, is of considerable tourist and sightseeing value. Another distinctive feature is the 18th-century Dutch windmill in Jerzmanice, one of the particularly valuable structures in Legnicki County.

Visitors interested in historic themed routes will find options of different lengths and with different focuses. The 20-kilometre Szlak Bitwy nad Kaczawą connects Dunino, Krajów, Winnica, Bielowice, Warmątowice Sienkiewiczowskie, Tyńczyk and Janowice Duże. The 12-kilometre Szlak Bitwy 1241 roku runs from Legnica railway station via Legnica-Piekary and Bartoszów to Legnickie Pole. Its route links the railway station with places along the way and the destination in Legnickie Pole.

The 72-kilometre Szlak dookoła Legnicy passes through areas of high natural value and by places commemorating the events of 1241 and the Battle of the Kaczawa during the Napoleonic Wars. A shorter option by distance is the 19-kilometre green Szlak nad Nysą Szaloną. It runs along the picturesque valley of the Nysa Szalona on the edge of the Janowice Plateau. The Cistercian Route, in turn, passes through Legnicki County and the municipalities of Krotoszyce, Legnica, Legnickie Pole, Kunice and Prochowice; it is connected with the Cistercian presence in Lower Silesia.

Cycling is also among the experiences described: the Rokitki cycle route was signposted in 2001. Its course led from the recreation centre via Biskupin and through forests towards Modła, then near Czernikowice and onward to Jerzmanowice, before returning to Rokitki.

At 95 hectares, Lake Kunickie is a specific destination for lake activities. Alongside water sports, visitors can fish, swim and walk along the shore. The lake is also known for its wide variety of waterbirds. At the water sports centres located there, sailboats, kayaks, motorboats and surfboards were available for hire.

Other natural areas offer different highlights. The Mierzowice Ecological Corridor covers 155.25 hectares of woodland and meadows. It is home to 15 protected plant species, including eight under strict protection. The Natura 2000 site Dolina Odry, in the municipalities of Prochowice and Ścinawa, includes riparian forests with diverse wildlife. Bird species recorded there include grey herons, black storks, kestrels, and red and black kites. When planning a trip, lake activities, routes and natural areas can therefore be considered as separate interests.

For more regional information, you can also visit the pages for Krotoszyce, Pątnówek, Chojnów, Rokitki, Legnickie Pole, Kawice, Warmątowice Sienkiewiczowskie, Jerzmanowice, Strachowice and Legnica.

What is special about the monastery complex in Legnickie Pole?

The present-day complex was built in the 18th century and is considered a major work of Silesian late Baroque architecture. The former Benedictine monastery complex was recognised as a Historic Monument of Poland in 2004; the former Church of the Holy Trinity now houses a museum.

What activities does Lake Kunickie offer?

The 95-hectare Lake Kunickie offers opportunities for water sports, fishing, swimming and walks along the shore. It is also known for its wide variety of waterbirds.

How long is the Szlak Bitwy nad Kaczawą?

The Szlak Bitwy nad Kaczawą is 20 kilometres long and connects Dunino, Krajów, Winnica, Bielowice, Warmątowice Sienkiewiczowskie, Tyńczyk and Janowice Duże.

For the broader travel overview: Lower Silesia.