Discover Bierutów: City History and Cycling and Kayaking Routes

• The medieval street plan has been preserved; the ring of town walls was probably built in the first half of the 14th century.
• Today, the Gothic tower without its spire is all that remains of the town hall on the market square. Every day at 12 noon, it plays the Bierutów hejnał.
• The red PTTK cycling route “Trasa folwarków” is about 20 kilometers long and takes 2.5 to 3 hours.
• The green route “Trasa Doliny Widawy” starts at the railway station, is about 30 kilometers long, and has a stated travel time of 3 hours.
• A kayaking route more than 40 kilometers long leads from Bierutów to a suburb of Wrocław; navigability varies seasonally.

Bierutów has a preserved medieval street plan. The ring of town walls was probably built in the first half of the 14th century on the site of an earlier timber-and-earth fortification. This refers to an earlier defensive structure made of wood and earth. In the 15th century and at the beginning of the 16th century, the fortifications were reinforced with towers at three gates. The details thus trace the development from the earlier structure to later additions at the gates.

The town hall has probably stood in the middle of the market square since the first half of the 15th century. Today, only the Gothic tower without its spire remains. Every day at 12 noon, it plays the Bierutów hejnał, composed by a local musician. Alongside its historical significance, the tower therefore also has a recurring musical connection to town life.

The Gothic castle church, formerly a Protestant church, dedicated to Saint Catherine was built in the first half of the 13th century or earlier. The church contains a Baroque high altar dating from 1661. The construction date and the altar provide different historical reference points: the church points to an early building phase, while the altar reflects a later furnishing.

The main walls of the former Protestant cemetery church of the Holy Trinity have been preserved. It stands outside the former Wrocław Gate, in the town park laid out on the cemetery grounds after 1945. St. Joseph’s Parish Church, meanwhile, was built in the Neo-Gothic style from 1891 to 1893. These buildings represent different periods and different chapters in the town’s history.

The red PTTK route “Trasa folwarków” starts in the castle courtyard in Bierutów. The stated time for its approximately 20 kilometers is 2.5 to 3 hours. The green “Trasa Doliny Widawy” starts at the railway station; it is about 30 kilometers long, with a stated travel time of 3 hours. The stated times are therefore similar, even though the green route is longer. When planning, it is worth considering the starting point, route length, and travel time together. If you plan to rely on the markings for the green route, check them in advance.

Bierutów has a specially prepared launch site for kayaks. It is on the bank of the Widawa and is also suitable for bivouacking. This is separate from the longer water route: it runs by kayak from Bierutów to a suburb of Wrocław, is more than 40 kilometers long, and can be completed in several hours. Navigability varies seasonally along the river. So check conditions for your planned section in advance.

Discover more destinations: Twardogóra, Międzybórz, Dobrzeń, Zawidowice, Dobroszyce, Sosnowka, Olszówka, Oleśnica.

When does the Bierutów hejnał sound?

The Gothic town hall tower plays it every day at 12 noon. The hejnał was composed by a local musician.

Where do the two cycling routes described here start?

The red “Trasa folwarków” starts in the castle courtyard, while the green “Trasa Doliny Widawy” starts at Bierutów railway station.

How does the navigability of the kayaking route vary?

It varies with the season along the river. So check conditions for your planned section in advance.

Back to the overview of the wider area: Oleśnicki.