From Izby to Bieliczna: church and viewpoint
Nearby: Krynica Zdr贸j
stroller Route for a stroller with large wheels
directions_bike Bike route
wb_sunny Route in the sun
directions_car Access by car
wc Toilet along the route
Bieliczna was once a Lemko village at the source of the Bia艂a River. Today, the picturesque and charming brick church of St. Michael the Archangel and a small cemetery are all that remain of the former settlement. The route from Izby to Bieliczna is a great idea for a short, easy and enjoyable family walk, even with a stroller or bicycle!
Bieliczna - how to get there?
Bieliczna used to be a hamlet of the village of Izby, located between Krynica Zdr贸j to the west and Wysowa Zdr贸j to the east. You can get here from both of these spa towns, or from the north from Gryb贸w. You can park your car near the church, shop, forester's lodge, or the Konska Dolina stud farm.
In theory, the dirt road to the church in Bieliczna is not closed to car traffic, but it is definitely worth leaving your car in Izby and walking along this short, picturesque valley at the foot of the queen of the Low Beskid - Lackowa.
The road from Izby to Bieliczna
The road from Izby to Bieliczna is dirt, but very comfortable and wide. Although there is no marked trail here except for the horse trail, we will definitely not get lost!
However, along the way, we will have two adventures crossing the ford on the Bia艂a River.
On a hot day, it will be an opportunity to cool off in the cold water, while in cooler weather you can use the makeshift bridge. A stroller and bicycles will easily pass over the concrete slabs, while a small pedestrian is best carried in arms (crossing on tree trunks can end with an unplanned bath...).
Bieliczna - attractions
After about 40 min. from leaving Izby, we reach the center of the former Lemko village, which is the picturesque church surrounded by centuries-old linden trees. Just behind it are benches, a place for a bonfire, and even a wooden outhouse.
Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Bieliczna
The history of the beautiful church in Bieliczna dates back to the end of the 18th century (it was built in 1796). Neglected after the residents were displaced, it served, among others, a hunting club (hence the image of St. Hubert on the altar). It was renovated in 1985 thanks to the efforts of the parish priest from the nearby village of Banica.
The church is open 24 hours a day, you can enter the vestibule and look inside through the grate. Several times a year, masses and services are held here, including at the beginning and end of the tourist season, i.e. on the last Sunday of April and the first Sunday of October.
Millennium Cross at the church in Bieliczna
Have you ever wondered what the inscriptions and dates on the cross at the church mean? This cross was erected to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the baptism of Rus, and the inscription means "1000 YEARS / 988 BAPTISM 1988 / RUS". Why is the baptism of Rus commemorated here, not Poland? Remember, the temple we are standing at is not a church, but a Greek Catholic church. The former residents of Bieliczna referred to the traditions of the Eastern Church, not the Roman Catholic Church.
Former Lemko cemetery in Bieliczna
Just above the church is a small cemetery where the former villagers rest. It's a pity they can't tell us today about the times when Bieliczna was bustling with life and there were as many as 34 farms in the Bia艂a valley and on the now empty meadows! The cemetery is so beautiful and well-kept today thanks to the work of the Magurycz Association.
Viewpoint above Bieliczna
From the Bia艂a valley, it's worth taking a short walk to the meadows above the church. On a clear day, beautiful views spread out from here: not only of Lackowa mountain towering over Bieliczna, but also of the neighboring Beskid S膮decki, and with a bit of luck you can even see the sharp peaks of the High Tatras.
From Bieliczna to Lackowa, Ostry Wierch and to Ropki
If from the meadows above the church in Bieliczna we go up the visible road into the forest, we will first encounter signs of a horse trail, and after a few dozen meters also a yellow tourist trail. The yellow signs will lead us either to the neighboring village of Ropki, or to Ostry Wierch (the second highest peak of the Low Beskid).
From Bieliczna we can also reach the Queen of the Low Beskid Lackowa. To do this, we need to go up the Bia艂a valley (without a trail, but a clear road) to the red trail at Pu艂aski Pass and turn right there. You can also climb the aforementioned yellow trail and reach the red trail on Ostry Wierch.
Lackowa - trails to the highest Polish peak of the Low Beskids
Lackowa (997 m above sea level) is the highest Polish peak of the Low Beskids, famous for its steep slopes. It belongs to the Crown of Polish Beskids and the Crown of Polish Mountains. Even though there is only one red, border trail passing through Lackowa, we have several routes to the summit to choose from. ...
Publish Date: 2024-04-10
More in the Region Beskid Niski (Mountain range of the Low Beskids (Beskid Niski))
Total Length 87 km
