Żary County: Discover Nature and Cultural Heritage
Accommodation in Żary County
Żary County offers everything from cross-border garden art to Geopark trails, forests and archaeological traces.
Żary County at a glance
- Żary County lies in the southwest of Lubusz Voivodeship, on the Żary Upland at the Polish-German border along the Lusatian Neisse.
- Forests cover more than half of Żary County; there are four nature reserves in the county.
- Muskau Park extends across Łęknica and Bad Muskau. The Double Bridge and the English Bridge connect its two parts.
What makes the landscape of Żary County special?
Muskau Park is a landscape park dating from the first half of the 19th century and an outstanding example of European garden art from that period. Its location spanning Łęknica and Bad Muskau makes its cross-border character tangible: the Double Bridge and the English Bridge connect the two parts of the park.
Since 2011, the Łuk Mużakowa Geopark has been part of European geopark networks with UNESCO support. Its Polish section is legally protected as a landscape park. In Łęknica, the UNESCO Geopark’s culture and education centre is housed in a historic industrial building and serves as an information point.
Which routes reveal different sides of the region?
The marked “Dawna Kopalnia Babina” walking and cycling route is four kilometres long. It runs around Łęknica and Nowe Czaple and is part of the Łuk Mużakowa Geopark. The Dolina Szyszyny nature and educational trail leads through the forest to an old mill on the Szyszyna. Along the trail, you can observe moisture-loving vegetation and amphibians. Near Biedrzychowice there is also an early medieval hillfort dating from the 8th century.
A considerably longer option is the green walking and cycling trail between Żary and Gubin: its 76.5 kilometres pass through the municipality of Brody. The distances represent two different scales—a four-kilometre marked route around Łęknica and Nowe Czaple, and a long trail between two towns that passes through Brody.
Where can you encounter history and culture?
Traces of Lusatian culture heritage can be found in Żary County. Nearby, at Wicina, there is an important archaeological site with a former prehistoric Lusatian culture fortified settlement dating from the Hallstatt period. North of Wicina are the remains of a prehistoric fortified settlement designated as a site worth seeing.
The palace complex in Brody is one of the few surviving Baroque complexes in Lubusz Voivodeship. The park by the palace was once laid out in the English and French styles; rare trees and shrubs grow beside a lake. Transport history is also part of the region’s character: Tuplice has a historic railway line dating from 1858 and a railway station dating from 1871.
What nature can you observe?
The four nature reserves reveal different aspects of Żary County’s natural environment. In the Nad Młyńską Strugą reserve, the river water is red and orange. A total of 146 bird species have been recorded in Łuk Mużakowa Landscape Park, including the Eurasian bittern, osprey and white-tailed eagle.
The forests, waters and fishponds of the municipality of Tuplice also offer opportunities to observe rare bird species, including the black stork, white-tailed eagle and osprey. Nature here ranges from strikingly coloured water to birdwatching in different landscapes.
How can you narrow down your accommodation search?
Start your search with places that match your planned focus: Łęknica is home to Muskau Park and the Geopark information point; Brody has the palace complex and its park. For nature watching, you could also consider the forests, waters and fishponds of the municipality of Tuplice. Zasieki can be included as another place in Żary County to compare. This lets you first organise your hotel search by the local theme you’re interested in, then check individual options.
Discover more destinations: Nowa Sól, Słubice County, Strzelce-Drezdenko County, Międzyrzecz County, Sulęcin County.
FAQ
How are the two parts of Muskau Park connected?
The park extends across Łęknica in Poland and Bad Muskau in Germany. The Double Bridge and the English Bridge connect its two parts.
How long are the walking and cycling routes described?
The marked “Dawna Kopalnia Babina” route is four kilometres long. The green walking and cycling trail between Żary and Gubin is 76.5 kilometres long and passes through the municipality of Brody.
Which birds are mentioned for Żary County?
The Łuk Mużakowa Landscape Park is recorded as having 146 bird species, including the Eurasian bittern, osprey and white-tailed eagle. Opportunities to observe the black stork, white-tailed eagle and osprey are also mentioned for the municipality of Tuplice.
Go to the main travel overview: Lubusz.
