Cycling Collection by Vincent Reboul
To the east, Eden – La Green Velo Szlak (part one)
12 days
4-8 h/day
1,274km
7,620m
7,690m
Poland has a rich, but painful past. Despite suffering significant wartime destruction, the architectural heritage more than equals its western neighbours. The Second World War virtually wiped out multicultural Poland. However, many traces remain that are visible on a slow bicycle trip through the country.
On this journey, it was the sanctuaries of the old wooden Orthodox churches that moved me the most; many of them stand along the border with Ukraine. My favourite city was Sandomierz, which knew how to keep industrialisation at arm’s length. Its city centre, Rynek Square, and its castle and cathedral, are all remarkable.
Nature also thrives in this part of Europe. Human population sparser and urbanisation is less significant, allowing islands of biodiversity to flourish on a larger scale, like in the
Białowieża forest. Home to the last wild forest bison in Europe, this vast woodland has long made me dream. It’s also the only primitive forest on the continent. Białowieża is the leitmotif of this 12-stage Collection, which covers 1,274 kilometres (791 mi) – the first part of this Polish route.
Green Velo Szlak officially begins from the town of Końskie, located between Warsaw and Krakow. You can choose whether you travel from the current capital or the Kingdom of Poland’s magnificent former capital, between 1320 and 1569. Both cities have good rail and air connections. For your return journey, Białowieża also has a railway station. The Polish railway network is very well established and is the best option where travel is concerned.
The Green Velo Zlack is the longest cycle path in Poland, leading more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) from Końskie to Gdańsk. It’s an ideal route for cycle tourers and gravel enthusiasts, as just under a third of the route leads along tracks. Poland is largely made up of vast plains, dotted with forests, rivers and lakes. For this Collection, I wanted to introduce you to the mountainous parts located in the extreme south-east of the country – the impressive Carpathians – so I added 200 kilometres (124 mi) to explore them.
This route was designed in 2013 and completed in 2017. There are more than 230 service points along the route, including numerous large shelters where you can shelter from the rain, as well as 30 bridges and footbridges for bicycles. This infrastructure separates you from road traffic as much as possible. You’ll find accommodation ranging from agritourism farms and campsites to B&Bs and small hotels, not to mention a few manor houses.
Poland’s culinary heritage is vibrant, as it was such a cultural melting pot. In Podlasie, you’ll find Polish, Tatar, Lithuanian, Belarusian and Jewish culinary influences, such as the famous kartacz – delicious stuffing with meat, onion and potatoes.
Come ride the Green Velo Slack between May and October. It’s possible to cycle through Poland in winter, but the conditions are harsh and some parts may be impassable because of flooding or snow.
If you want to complete the adventure in its entirety, please consult the following Collection which describes the second section going from Białowieża to Elblag :
komoot.com/fr-fr/collection/2472491/a-l-est-leden-la-green-velo-szlak-seconde-partie
Dobrej drogi! Good road!
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Green Velo Szlak - Part 1
1,270km
7,390m
7,460m
Last updated: November 14, 2024
Do it yourself!
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Ready to get going? Create and customize your own version of this adventure using the full route below as a template.
Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Activities
126km
07:44
710m
730m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
73.7km
04:22
470m
510m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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97.6km
05:54
260m
250m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
99.5km
06:13
660m
590m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
133km
08:46
1,470m
1,170m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
126km
08:21
1,690m
2,000m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
99.1km
06:23
450m
450m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
83.3km
04:58
440m
460m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
110km
06:50
460m
490m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
116km
06:42
250m
300m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
90.4km
05:17
270m
270m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
119km
08:21
490m
480m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Collection Stats
Activities
12
Distance
1,274 km
Duration
79:50 h
Elevation
7,620 m
7,690 m
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