The area surrounding Szarki offers two distinct focal points: river activities on the Liswarta and Warta, and cultural history near Krzepice and Danków. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether you are more interested in a canoe trip, cycling and landscape experiences, or historic buildings. The places and activities represent different sides of the region; they do not imply a set order.

Canoeing on the Liswarta and Warta

In the area surrounding Szarki, the canoe route on the Liswarta runs from Starokrzepice for 41 kilometres to Kule. You can extend the trip along the Warta to Działoszyn, making a total of 57 kilometres. This gives you two route lengths to consider when planning. The Liswarta has very clean water and numerous rapids. It is not easy to navigate throughout; some sections are suitable for children. Which sections are suitable depends on conditions and paddling experience.

Along the Liswarta canoe route, there are warnings about river hazards, information on portage points and rest areas, and details of sights. Check local directions before setting out. The Załęczański Landscape Park in the area surrounding Szarki can also be explored by bicycle, on horseback, or on a kayaking trip on the Warta. The options therefore differ: cycling and horseback riding are alternatives to travelling on the water.

Landscape and cycle routes

In the municipality of Krzepice, the valleys of the Liswarta and Pankówka, together with small nearby forest complexes, form ecological corridors of regional and local importance. This is a distinct aspect of the landscape alongside the recreational opportunities on the rivers.

The Szlak Pankówki cycle route is also located in the area surrounding Szarki. Frequent R-1 signs indicate the direction. Information boards display cycle route maps and descriptions of sights; R-3 signs show distances to other localities. As you should check the markings on site before setting off, do not rely on these details as a substitute for up-to-date directions.

Churches and history near Krzepice

Near Krzepice stands the single-nave Gothic parish church of St James the Apostle, built of red brick. King Casimir the Great founded it in the 14th century. The church is on a corner of the market square; its appearance combines Gothic origins with Baroque elements added later. Different periods in architectural history therefore meet in a single building.

Another aspect of the region’s cultural heritage is the Jewish cemetery in Krzepice. It is considered one of the places with one of the largest concentrations of cast-iron matzevot in Europe. For travellers interested in architectural and religious history, the cemetery adds a distinct historical focus to the church architecture.

Danków Fortress and its historical layers

The fortress in Danków was extensively rebuilt in the 1630s and fitted with bastion fortifications. The Pilgrimage Church of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Danków was built inside the fortress between 1641 and 1675. The 17th-century church building has been preserved. The image of Our Lady of Danków was solemnly crowned on 25 May 2002.

The fortress’s later history can also be traced chronologically: after the fire of 1767, it increasingly fell into ruin. In the second half of the 19th century, it was demolished down to its foundations; its ramparts were conserved in the 1960s. The historical layers are therefore clearly distinct: the fortress’s reconstruction, the construction of the pilgrimage church, and the fortification’s subsequent development.

Discover more destinations: Zawady, Miedźno, Danków, Kopiec, Pierzchno.

Return to the main travel overview: Kłobuck.