The Bóbr shapes Żagań’s park and palace ensemble and is also a setting for kayaking. In Żagań, riverside scenery, extensive green spaces and historic sites sit side by side. You can plan your explorations around what interests you most: paths by the water, culture or the city’s history.
River, park and trails
The 9.5-kilometre Ścieżka Dzików trail runs alongside the Bóbr’s riverside meadows and oxbow lakes, as well as the pine forests of the extensive Lower Silesian Forest. Its length gives you a concrete reference point for planning; it offers a different kind of exploration from the paths through the city-centre park and palace ensemble.
There, the Ścieżka Wiewiórek trail winds through an ensemble of more than 100 hectares shaped by the Bóbr. The Pałacowy Park around the Pałac Książęcy combines classical garden design with a natural, romantic landscape. Preserved sightlines, mature trees and informal paths are part of its character; the paths are ideal for walking and relaxing.
The Wieża Widokowa offers another perspective. It combines a recreational and historic function with views of Żagań and the surrounding green spaces. Together, the river, park paths and tower reveal different aspects of the same landscape: the Bóbr as a defining feature, landscaped green spaces and views across the city.
On foot, by bike or on the water
Routes also extend beyond the individual park paths through Żagań. The interregional Bałtyk–Karkonosze cycle route passes through the city on its way from Trzebież to Jelenia Góra. On the Bóbr, the kayaking route covers a stretch from Szprotawa to Żagań. The river is considered a symbol of Żagań, particularly its park, and carries participants on numerous kayaking trips.
For a shorter route with a focus on history, the three-kilometre tourist trail “Kamienne Ślady Przeszłości” begins at the gatehouse, now home to the Centrum Informacji Turystycznej. The route links the building’s former purpose and its current role as a tourist information point as two distinct stops on the same journey: this is where the trail begins, and where the information centre is located.
Architecture and traces of history
The Pałac Książęcy is another destination for anyone interested in exploring Żagań’s architectural heritage. Visitors can see the grand halls and arcaded courtyard. The themed trail dedicated to the heritage of Duchess Dorothea begins in front of the palace. Both features give the site a prominent place in exploring the city, without needing to be part of the same tour.
The former Augustinian monastery is also part of the historic heritage; for centuries, it was a centre of religious, scholarly and intellectual life. The surviving medieval city walls were built in the 14th century and formed part of the city’s defensive system. The former Jesuit college and the Church of Saints Peter and Paul make up a monumental religious and educational complex. In Żagań, you can encounter both evidence of the city’s defences and places of religious and scholarly life.
The Muzeum Obozów Jenieckich in Żagań is connected with the history of Allied prisoners of war. Nearby, south of the city and west of the already existing Stalag VIII C, Stalag Luft III was established in the spring of 1942. Distinguishing between the city’s history and a historic site in the surrounding area helps put the different locations into context.
Themed tourist trails also explore specific aspects of history: the open-air Solar System installation is part of the “Śladami Johannesa Keplera w Żaganiu” trail. The Dorothea trail, by contrast, focuses on the duchess’s heritage and starts in front of the Pałac Książęcy. You can choose a trail based on its particular theme.
Local experiences and practical information
At Winnica Saganum, the guided experience includes a tasting of wine and snacks among the vines. Check the booking arrangements before your trip. Guided city tours in Żagań are offered by the Centrum Informacji Turystycznej primarily for organised groups; arrange the date, duration and reservation details individually with the centre.
Road layout may affect your approach to the city: National Road 12 runs as a bypass along the eastern and northern sides of Żagań. Check the current road layout before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Żagań, Gmina Szprotawa, Iłowa, Landsberg An Der Warthe, Wschowski, Zielonogórski, Świebodziński, Strzelecko-Drezdenecki.
Back to the main travel overview: Lubusz.
