In Trzebnica, devotion to St. Hedwig and trails through the town and its surroundings take centre stage. The basilica, two Hedwig trails with different layouts, monastic history and a seasonal water park offer a range of options for your stay. You can plan your visit around your interests: sacred history, a walk along field and forest paths, or recreational activities for exercise and children.
St. Hedwig’s Basilica and its history
St. Hedwig’s Basilica is considered the oldest sanctuary in Silesia and one of the important necropolises of the Silesian Piasts. It is also a sacred site because of the veneration of St. Hedwig. One architectural feature is the sanctuary’s second chapel: built in 1268–1269, it is considered the first building in Poland constructed in a purely Gothic style.
Outside service times, the basilica can be visited individually or in small groups. Plan your visit accordingly and check the visiting arrangements in advance, as they may change. This makes it possible to include a visit to the church in your itinerary without assuming fixed visiting hours.
Two Hedwig trails with different characters
The Great St. Hedwig Trail is a 7 km circular route that starts and ends in the square in front of the basilica. It runs mainly along field and forest paths through the surrounding hills and suburbs of Trzebnica and is suitable for walkers and cyclists. Along the route are seven places connected with the life of St. Hedwig, as well as seven meditation stones representing her virtues.
Those looking for a form of reflection centred on stations can visit the Little St. Hedwig Trail on the Pilgrim Square. It consists of 15 stone stations and is intended for prayer and quiet reflection. The trails therefore differ in their layout: one is a 7 km circuit through the surrounding area, while the other is a sequence of stone stations with a meditative purpose. This comparison can help you choose between a circular route through the landscape and a series of stations specifically intended for prayer and contemplation.
Monastic history and archaeology
The Museum of Sister Olimpia Konopka is located in the former Cistercian monastery in Trzebnica. It presents the monastery’s heritage and the history of the Cistercian and Borromean Sisters. It thus complements the religious and architectural perspective of the basilica with the history of the monastic communities.
The Regional Museum of Trzebnica offers a different historical perspective: visitors can see archaeological remains of an early human camp identified as Homo erectus. Those interested in different historical periods can compare the history of the monastery and religious orders with the archaeological exhibition, rather than limiting the cultural part of their stay to a single theme.
Water activities and cat sculptures
Gminny Park Wodny TRZEBNICA-ZDRÓJ combines several leisure activities. Its seasonally open outdoor area has outdoor slides, a children’s playground with a paddling pool, and a beach volleyball court. The facilities also include a swimming section, the Hydra Trzebnica underwater hockey section, swimming lessons for children and adults, aqua aerobics, water rehabilitation and holiday camps. If the outdoor area is especially important to you, check its seasonal opening when planning your visit.
Another attraction for children and tourists is Kocia Ścieżka. It consists of cat sculptures installed at several locations around the town. This offers a clear distinction when choosing the focus of your visit: the Hedwig trails lead to religious stations or through the landscape, while the park and cat sculptures offer other leisure and discovery themes.
Discover more destinations: Zawonia, Uraz, Pierwoszów, Prusice, Osolin, Pęgów, Szewce, Żmigród
For the wider travel overview: Trzebnicki.
