Parkland and Geopark
Żary County lies in the southwest of Lubusz Voivodeship, on the Żary Plateau along the Polish-German border by the Lusatian Neisse. Forests cover more than half of the area, which is also home to four nature reserves. A prominent landmark for planning a trip is Muskau Park: it extends across Łęknica in Poland and Bad Muskau in Germany. The Double Bridge and the English Bridge connect the two parts. As a landscape park dating from the first half of the 19th century, it is considered an outstanding example of European garden art of that period.
The Łuk Mużakowa Geopark offers another way to experience the landscape. Since 2011, it has been part of European geopark networks with UNESCO support; the Polish section is protected by law as a landscape park. In Łęknica, the UNESCO Geopark Cultural and Education Centre is housed in a historic industrial building. It serves as an information point and provides a specific place to visit in the geopark.
Trails, forests and wildlife
The signposted Dawna Kopalnia Babina route is four kilometres long, is intended for walking and cycling, and runs in the area around Łęknica and Nowe Czaple. It is part of the Łuk Mużakowa Geopark. The green walking and cycling trail between Żary and Gubin covers a different scale: it is 76.5 kilometres long and passes through the Brody municipality. The difference in length helps with planning: a shorter trail and an extended route are available as distinct options.
There are also specific places to start observing nature. In Łuk Mużakowa Landscape Park, 146 bird species have been recorded, including the bittern, osprey and white-tailed eagle. In the Tuplice municipality, forests, bodies of water and fishponds offer opportunities to spot several rare bird species; those mentioned include the black stork, white-tailed eagle and osprey. In the Nad Młyńską Strugą nature reserve, the river water is red and orange.
The signposted Dolina Szyszyny nature and educational trail leads through the forest to an old mill on the Szyszyna. Moisture-loving vegetation and amphibians can be observed along the trail. This connects the nature theme with a specific destination along the way: the old mill. Near Biedrzychowice, there is also an early medieval hillfort dating from the 8th century along this trail.
Cultural history in different places
Żary County contains traces of the heritage of the Lusatian culture. Near Wicina is a significant archaeological site with a former prehistoric Lusatian culture fortified settlement dating from the Hallstatt period. The hillfort near Biedrzychowice adds a different period to the picture: it dates from the early Middle Ages. Those interested in archaeology can therefore include sites from different historical periods in their travel plans.
In Brody, the palace complex is one of the few surviving Baroque ensembles in Lubusz Voivodeship. The park around the palace was once laid out in the English and French styles; rare trees and shrubs grow by a lake. In Tuplice, railway history adds another dimension: the town has a historic railway line dating from 1858 and a station dating from 1871.
A guide to finding accommodation
When looking for hotels in Żary County, you can first decide what interests you most: the park and garden art, the geopark and wildlife watching, or archaeological and architectural heritage. Then consider which of the places mentioned are most important to your stay.
Discover more destinations: Tuplice, Brody, Zasieki, Zielona Góra County, Żary, Słubice County, Żagań, Nowa Sól.
For the broader travel overview: Lubusz.
