Two distinctive towers give the Neo-Gothic Minor Basilica in Parczew its striking appearance; inside, you will find polychrome decoration and stained-glass windows. The church is the Sanctuary of Our Lady Queen of Families in the Roman Catholic Parish of St John the Baptist. Its furnishings include five wooden altars. The windows include depictions of Saint Anthony from 1939 and the Assumption of Mary from 1937. Pope John Paul II granted the church the status of a Minor Basilica in 1989.
Church art and the history of the town
The area around the church also reflects the many historical layers that shape Parczew’s past. The wooden bell tower was built in 1675 and is considered the town’s oldest surviving architectural monument. The St John the Baptist church complex is listed in the register and inventory of monuments. A Way of the Cross with stations featuring stone sculptures was created beside the church in 2008. It serves as a place for prayer, quiet reflection, recreation and pilgrims’ gatherings.
Another historic landmark is the market hall at Plac Wolności. It was built in 1938 to a design by Artur Bernhardt. The settlement of Parczew, formerly called Parczów, is documented as early as the 13th century. In 1401, Władysław Jagiełło granted Parczew town rights; in 1413, the town was designated in Horodło as a venue for Polish-Lithuanian meetings and Sejms. Its historical heritage also includes a medieval town plan laid out under Magdeburg law, traces of settlement underground and archaeological layers documenting the town’s development.
Jewish heritage and places of remembrance
The synagogue in Parczew was a Jewish house of prayer, built by the Jewish community in the eclectic style after 1873. The mikveh was a Jewish ritual bath; it was built in the early 20th century and features elements of modernist architecture. Both buildings represent different chapters in the history of Jewish life in Parczew. The former Jewish cemetery was established around 1566 and destroyed during the Second World War. Today, the site is a park with a memorial to the victims of the Second World War.
Forests, nature reserves and routes
The Parczew Forests in the municipality of Parczew are suitable for walks and bike rides. In the Jezioro Obradowskie water and peat bog reserve in the forests, the educational trail takes in the 12-hectare lake and a boardwalk through the bog. From there, you can take in the reserve’s landscape and natural environment. The “Dolina Tyśmienicy” nature trail in the municipality follows a section of the Tyśmienica Valley. The valley is part of the European Natura 2000 ecological network and is valued by ornithologists for its many bird species.
Several routes offer different itineraries. The red Partyzancki Trail starts at Parczew railway station, passes through Laski and the Parczew Forests, and goes by the Jezioro Obradowskie, Królowa Droga and Lasy Parczewskie nature reserves. The green Leśny Trail starts at the bus station, runs through the town and follows the Gościniec and the forests to Białka. Check local signs before setting out.
The 42-kilometre Szlak Dzikiej Przyrody starts at the car park by the Minor Basilica and runs from Parczew via Laski and the Parczew Forests to Białka Sosnowica. Four nature reserves lie on or near the route: Jezioro Obradowskie, Torfowisko przy Jeziorze Czarnym, Królowa Droga and Lasy Parczewskie. For a shorter option, the combined walking and cycling route from Parczew to Siemień is 6.9 kilometres long and ends at the Tyśmienica by a rest area. Other route distances provide a point of comparison: the black trail runs 8.9 kilometres from Milanów to Parczew; the yellow LU-5514-y trail is 73.7 kilometres long and runs between Sobieszyn PKS and Parczew PKP. Check local trail conditions and signage.
Culture and practical information
The annual Jarmark Jagielloński focuses on Jagiellonian history and tradition. The programme includes historical re-enactments, sculpture, painting and traditional ceramics, pottery and embroidery; event dates vary. The Parczewski Dom Kultury calendar lists the 27th Parczewska Jesień Kulturalna for September to November 2026. If you would like to plan your visit around it, check the specific dates.
The Lublin–Łuków railway line runs through Parczew; check the current timetable when planning your journey. The “Jelonek” sports and recreation complex in the municipality of Parczew includes a covered six-lane sports pool, a leisure pool with water attractions, a Finnish dry sauna, a fitness room and a gym. The municipal sports and recreation centre in the municipality includes a skatepark, a pump track, sports courts, gyms and a tennis court. Check current opening arrangements and available facilities before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Opole, Parczew, Babianka, Leitnie, Dębowa Kłoda.
Discover more destinations: Chełmski, Puławski, Tomaszowski.
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