Balice

• Jan and Beldonek are two oaks about 250 years old, designated as natural monuments.
• St. Stanislaus Church was created in 1923 by converting a 19th-century Neoclassical palace.
• The first written references to Balice date back to the beginning of the 13th century; an archaeological site includes a prehistoric settlement and other traces of settlement.

Jan and Beldonek are two oaks designated as natural monuments; they are approximately 250 years old. They stand in Balice, on the road to Janowice, at the edge of the forest in compartment 205a of the Budy Forest District, within the Pińczów Forest Inspectorate. The age is an estimate, not an exact year of origin. If you include natural monuments in your travel plans, these two named oaks offer a specific point of interest.

St. Stanislaus Church stands on a hill in Balice, in the Gnojno municipality, at house number 1. It was created in 1923 by converting the 19th-century Neoclassical palace of the Lubieniecki family. The term “Neoclassical” describes the architectural style of the former palace; the conversion refers to a later phase in the building’s history.

Bishop Augustyn Łosiński established the parish in Balice on March 19, 1923. The conversion and the establishment of the parish therefore took place in the same year, but refer to two different events: the alteration of the building and the creation of the parish.

The first written references to Balice date back to the beginning of the 13th century. Balice is also home to a registered archaeological site with a prehistoric settlement and other traces of settlement. Written references and archaeological traces of settlement can therefore be understood as distinct points of reference in time: the site points to prehistory, while the written references point to the early 13th century. A first written mention does not automatically mean that a place was founded at that time.

Discover more destinations: Janina, Solec-Zdrój, Busko-Zdrój, Stopnica, Zielonki, Konary, Kargów, Mietel.

What natural monuments are there in Balice?

The oaks Jan and Beldonek are designated as natural monuments and are about 250 years old. They stand at the edge of the forest on the road to Janowice.

How did St. Stanislaus Church come about?

It was created in 1923 by converting the 19th-century Neoclassical palace of the Lubieniecki family. In the same year, on March 19, Bishop Augustyn Łosiński established the parish in Balice.

How far back do the historical references to Balice go?

The first written references date back to the beginning of the 13th century. A registered archaeological site also includes a prehistoric settlement and other traces of settlement.

For the broader travel overview: Buski.