Bliżyn offers a range of discoveries: hiking trails with clearly stated route lengths, leisure activities at the reservoir, and churches with distinctive architectural and artistic features. The black trail ends in Bliżyn, while the green trail begins at the town’s railway station. The reservoir has a bathing area and other leisure facilities; the churches bring together cast-iron works and Neo-Gothic architecture. For planning, it helps to first choose your focus: longer trails, time by the water or architectural history.
Choose hiking trails by distance and theme
The black trail from Sołtyków to Bliżyn is 10.5 kilometres long. The green route from Bliżyn to Zagnańsk measures 24.5 kilometres and begins at Bliżyn railway station. This makes the green route 14 kilometres longer than the black one. Along the way are Piekło Dalejowskie, the Brama Piekielna natural monument, the Dalejów and Świnia Góra nature reserves, and Dąb Bartek. These destinations provide additional points of reference on the longer route; it is advisable to check local conditions before setting off.
Another option is the yellow “Miejsc Mocy” pilgrimage cycling trail. Within the municipality, the section passes through Ubyszów, Bliżyn, Sorbin and Nowki. Those more interested in historic buildings can also explore the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship Wooden Architecture Trail, which passes through Bliżyn and Mroczków. Both villages have historic churches in the Kamienna Valley. This makes it possible to distinguish between the hiking trails, cycling route and architecture trail by their respective focus, without combining them into a single route.
The Bliżyński Reservoir and its leisure area
The 10.34-hectare Bliżyński Reservoir lies on the Kamienna River in Bliżyn. The facilities described include a bathing area, piers, a beach and a paddling pool for children. The leisure area also has a playground, an outdoor fitness area, a street-workout facility and a pump track. These activities give a visit by the water a different focus from the hiking trails and churches.
A promenade on the north shore invites visitors to take a stroll; there are also numerous cycling routes around the reservoir. So bathing is not the only activity to consider: walks and bike rides are also among the options described. The 2025 bathing season was affected by renovation work. If you are planning to swim, check the current conditions in advance.
Churches, cast iron and architectural history
At St. Zofia’s Church and in the adjacent cemetery is a unique collection of cast-iron works from the second half of the 19th century. These include railings, fence elements, tombs and stairs made at the local foundry. Visits to St. Zofia’s Church can be arranged in advance with the parish priest of St. Louis Parish.
St. Louis Church offers a distinctive architectural highlight. Built from ashlar in the Neo-Gothic style between 1886 and 1900, the three-aisled basilica has a shallow chancel closed on three sides. Its pointed-arch windows contain stained glass dating from around 1908, made by Zakłady Górnicze w Bliżynie. Comparing it with the cast-iron works at St. Zofia reveals two different forms of local architectural and artistic history.
The Neo-Gothic Plater family palace is another of Bliżyn’s historic buildings. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century. Only the west wing, coach house and outbuilding have survived; the Gminny Ośrodek Kultury is now based there. Together with the churches and the Wooden Architecture Trail, the palace offers another way to explore the town’s architectural history.
Discover more destinations: Skarżysko-Kamienna, Płaczków, Łączna.
Go to the broader travel overview: Skarżysko.
