Pstrągowa can be viewed from two perspectives: its valley landscape and a local history reflected in churches, chapels and memorial sites. For planning your trip, this means choosing a clear focus: would you like to get to know the landscape above all, or explore the buildings and historical events associated with the place?
Valley, Streams and Forests
Pstrągowa stretches along the Pstrągówka Valley, which is surrounded by hills. This setting gives the village a distinct landscape: the river course and rising slopes belong together, yet offer different points of reference for taking in the surroundings. Extensive forests lie to the west and north of the village.
Small streams flow through the hills of Pstrągowa and join the Wisłok outside the village. These streams should not be confused with the river that gives the valley its name. If you are interested in the landscape, it is worth keeping the distinction in mind: the Pstrągówka in the valley, and the streams that flow into the Wisłok farther away.
Near the nature reserve Wielki Las, in the vicinity of the destination, there is a tourist rest area in forest compartment 239b. There you can shelter from the rain or light a campfire. As current access arrangements are not specified, it is best to check before visiting.
Churches and Local History
The first confirmed religious place of worship in Pstrągowa was a chapel dating from 1344. The village has been an independent parish since 1628. Records indicate that a wooden church was added to an earlier chapel in 1802.
Another historical event concerns a wooden church that residents of Pstrągowa transported from Góra Ropczycka to Pstrągowa by horse-drawn wagon. They covered the distance in a single day. The present-day brick Church of Saint Joseph the Worker was built later, between 1973 and 1975.
The Cantamus choir has been active at the parish since 2006. Its traditions include annual Christmas concerts titled “Bóg się rodzi.” This annual tradition offers a seasonal connection to local history; if you are planning a trip around a specific date, it is best to check the concert schedule separately.
On the square beside the parish church stands a late-Baroque stone statue of Saint John of Nepomuk dating from the 17th century. Another memorial site has a much graver history: in June 1943, German occupying forces murdered eleven people in Pstrągowa during a pacification action. A monument in the village center commemorates the victims and is located near the church and school.
Chapel and Manor House
The Chapel of Saint Bartholomew stands in the hamlet of Brzezie in Pstrągowa, on the former road to Zawadka. Bartłomiej Fortuna, a farmer from Pstrągowa, had it built in 1878. Its wall paintings include a depiction of a guardian angel. The Neo-Baroque altar has four columns and an image of Saint Bartholomew. These features give the chapel its own architectural character within the history of the village.
The former manor house of the Jarecki family is another of Pstrągowa’s historic buildings; it was built in 1929. Franciszek Jarecki, the estate owner at the time, designed the entire manor house. He also designed Zakopane-style furniture, which was made by carpenters from Czudec.
When choosing this destination, the different interests are easy to weigh up: valleys, hills, streams and forests shape the landscape of Pstrągowa, while its chapels, churches, manor house and monument lead to different chapters of its history. You can then decide which theme will be the deciding factor for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Czudec, Strzyżów, Brzeżanka, Cieszyna, Frysztak, Nowa Wieś
Back to the main travel overview: Strzyżów.
