Racibórz – Nature and Culture in the Upper Oder Valley

• The Bramy Morawskiej Arboretum covers 150 ha and is characterised by mixed forest.
• The arboretum has a dendrological trail and an ecological trail.
• The Łężczok Forest and Pond Reserve protects a species-rich riparian forest and former Cistercian fishponds.
• Racibórz is a REGIO passenger rail hub with connections to Katowice, Wrocław and Rybnik.

At the Bramy Morawskiej Arboretum, hilly terrain and mixed forest meet in a distinctive location near the Moravian Gate. This location favours a diversity of remarkable plants, animals and fungi. Many living things have migrated through the Moravian Gate and continue to move through it. The two signposted, well-marked educational trails have different focuses: the dendrological trail is devoted to trees and woody plants, while the ecological trail explores the broader context of nature. This lets you choose your own focus without treating the two trails as interchangeable.

The arboretum also includes a mini-zoo with around 100 animals and birds. A different kind of wildlife is the focus in Racibórz-Brzezie: the viewing enclosure there covers more than 10 ha and was created specifically for European bison. The Łężczok Forest and Pond Reserve, meanwhile, was established in 1957 to protect a species-rich riparian forest and former Cistercian fishponds. Its fauna includes 249 bird species, several hundred invertebrate species and 46 wild mammal species. With its diverse wildlife, Łężczok offers a distinctive experience alongside the arboretum.

The parks also have different characteristics. Roth Park, formerly called Gondola Park, covers 5.46 ha. One hectare of this area is taken up by a pond with an island and fountain; on Bema Street, there is a viewing terrace beside the pond. Zamkowy Park is larger, at 13.87 ha, and is protected by law. Since 17 December 1997, it has been entered in the Register of Immovable Monuments of the Silesian Voivodeship under number A/1672/66/97.

The Muzeum in Racibórz presents permanent and temporary exhibitions in the former Dominican church at ul. Gimnazjalna 1. The permanent exhibition “W Domu Ozyrysa” includes the mummy of the Egyptian woman Dżed-Amonet-Ius-Anch, a cartonnage fragment and two anthropoid sarcophagi. The museum therefore offers both changing themes and a permanent exhibition featuring specific Egyptian artefacts.

The castle complex in Racibórz-Ostróg offers another perspective on history. The chapel at the ducal castle was probably built in the 1280s. At the castle chapel, the bishop founded a collegiate church of Saint Thomas Becket. To this day, the chapel is considered an outstanding work and a “pearl of Upper Silesian Gothic”. The malt house at the ducal castle also houses the interactive multimedia exhibition “Historia Górnego Śląska czasów Piastów i Przemyślidów”, considered one of the most modern of its kind in Poland.

Another historical theme is depicted in the Panorama Raciborza mural: it shows a panorama of Racibórz created by Friedrich Bernhard Werner in Nuremberg in the mid-18th century. Questy offer a different way to engage with the city. These are outdoor games in which participants solve riddles and complete tasks in the real world.

The REGIO passenger rail hub in Racibórz is a useful point of reference for planning your journey: connections run to Katowice, Wrocław and Rybnik. If you are looking for a hotel in Racibórz, you can take these rail connections into account when planning your own journey.

If you would like to compare other destination pages, you can find Pogrzebień, Rzuchów, Rudy, Kuźnia Raciborska, Kobyla, Szonowice, Ratibor and Myslowitz here.

What rail connections are available from Racibórz?

The REGIO passenger rail hub in Racibórz offers connections to Katowice, Wrocław and Rybnik.

Which educational trails are there in the Bramy Morawskiej Arboretum?

There are two signposted and well-marked educational trails: a dendrological trail and an ecological trail.

What does the “W Domu Ozyrysa” exhibition show?

The permanent exhibition at the Muzeum in Racibórz displays the mummy of the Egyptian woman Dżed-Amonet-Ius-Anch, a cartonnage fragment and two anthropoid sarcophagi.

For the overview of the wider region: Silesia.