Martyrs. Nearby, you will find yet anoth- was established in Sławatycze, Introduction Horse stable by J. Gumowski in Wygoda, er wooden temple, called the Martyrium the monastery of The Green Velo Eastern Cycle Trail, covering 1980 km, is the longest cy- by J. Gumowski Pratulińskie. It was erected at the very Missionary Ob- cle route in . It goes through five regions in the eastern part of the spot the Uniates defended. lates behind the Rosary and the Or- country: Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Podlaskie, Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, and square also church. thodox Church of Świętokrzyskie . Just one glance at the map is enough to presents a true Kostomłoty. In Kostomłoty, the pre- the Our Lady of make one realise how many different regions the trail combines, and how automotive gem served wooden Church of St. Nikita the Jabłeczna. Ac- Protection. Each diverse it is in terms of landscapes and culture. Among seaside sceneries - one of the old- Martyr from 1631 forms the Sanctuary cording to legend, year during the and highlands, along lake lands, through primeval forests and big urban est petrol stations of Podlaskie’s Uniates. The temple the icon of St. Hum- last three days of De- centres, Green Velo takes us on a journey discovering the most beautiful in Poland, with an has an iconostasis with phrey, floating cember, the sławatyccy features of the lands where various religions and denominations have co- original, manual a 17th-century icon de- along the River, brodacze (­bearded men of existed for centuries. fuel pump manu- picting the patron was washed ashore and Sławatycze), men dressed in Cyclists travelling between Gnojno and Chełm will have a chance to admire factured by Temper of the temple. It is indicated the site for linen beards and traditional the landscapes formed by the Bug River, including the picturesque Bug Gorge. Extakt in 1928. A few the Poland’s only the construction of hats made of flowers, walk the On your way, you will pass the world famous Arabian stud farm in Janów Pod- kilometres south of Neo-Uniate par- an Orthodox mon- streets of Sławatycze. It is said laski, shrines of various religions in Kostomłoty, Kodeń, and Jabłeczna, the uniquely Janów lies the Uroczysko ish that observes astery, which has that meeting them brings luck. multicultural cities of Włodawa and Chełm, as well as Sobibór Forest – a complex of Zaborek Hotel - a complex of the Byzantine- been operating con- Wooden figures of these bearded men vast forests and peat bogs, and the country’s largest European pond turtle breeding historic wooden buildings (includ- Slavonic rites. It tinually since the 15th can be seen on the town square. While in area. The section of the route described here runs almost entirely through lowlands, ing a church, a presbytery, a manor is frequently vis- century. You will find Sławatycze you can go kayaking and take allowing you to enjoy a purely recreational ride. house, and a windmill) which has been ited by pilgrims and two wooden chapels a closer look at the untamed wilderness Włodawa, one of the oldest in Europe. The most transformed into a modern hotel. tourists. from the beginning of the surrounding the Bug River. by M. Tarajko th Attractions along the route beautiful stables, the Clock Stable and 20 century among the Bug Front Stable, were designed in the first . Here in this small village on Basilica in Kodeń, River meadows, in the vicinity of Włodawa. This town is a place where Okuninka. A popular summer resort by J. Gumowski half of the 19th century by a well-known the Bug River, a Uniate parish functioned the church. Each year on 24 and 25 June three cultures meet. The temples bear on Jezioro Białe (White Lake), about from Gnojno to Chełm neo-classical architect - Enrico Marconi. separately from the Roman Catholic one thousands of people come here to cel- witness to this coexistence: the baroque 7 kilometres south of Włodawa. There The prestigious “Pride of Poland” auc- from 1676. During the period of the Kodeń. The basilica in Kodeń was built ebrate the feast of St. Humphrey. Church of St. Louis from mid-eighteenth is always something going on in Okun- Niemirów - Gnojno. This exceptionally charming section of the Bug River is the location tion takes place here every August. The , the Tsarist occupy- in the 17th century. Its construction was century, the Orthodox Church of the inka. In summers you might get the of a ferry crossing. The ferry that runs here does not have an engine; it moves to one bank high value of the mounts from Wygoda ing regime increased its pressure on the funded through a donation made by Sławatycze. In Sławatycze on the Bug Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary from impression that this place never sleeps. thanks to the river’s current, and returns pushed by the ferrymen. is demonstrated by the amounts paid by Uniates, forcing them to convert to Or- Mikołaj Sapieha. You will be amazed River, visitors are greeted by two church- the 19th century, and the 18th-century The exceptionally clean waters of the buyers - El Paso, a stallion, was purchased thodox Christianity. On 24 January 1874 by its rich Renaissance stuccos. es facing each other: the Church of Our Great Synagogue - one of the finest syna- lake are a perfect place for swimmers, Wygoda. The former farm near Janów Podlaski houses the world famous stud farm by Armand Hammer for a million dollars thirteen Uniates lost their lives at the This was a unique architectural trend Lady of the gogues in the former Commonwealth, divers, and fans of boat cruises. of Arabian purebreds and Anglo-Arabian horses. Established in 1817, the farm is in 1981. hands of Russian soldiers. The Pratulin developed in the Lublin region at now the site of the Museum of the Łęczna parish Church of Sts. Peter and Paul from the turn of the 17th century. and Włodawa Lake District. The Festival of Ferry crossing on Janów Podlaski. Once a colourful 1838 is home to the Shrine of Podlaskie Crowds are attracted by Three cultures is held here in September. the Bug near Gnojno, town, today a quiet village with the ru- the miraculous painting It is an annual event commemorating the Okuninka, Lake Białe, by J. Gumowski ins of the Bishops’ Palace from 1770, sur- of Our Lady of Kodeń city’s multicultural history. by S. Turski rounded by a park and a farm building – the Queen of Pod- complex. The village centre features laskie, which originally the impressive baroque Church of came from the papal the Holy Trinity and the 18th-cen- chapel in Rome. The tury seminary building right Ornithology-Mis- next to it, which nowadays sionary Museum serves as a school. The ­market

Orthodox church Kostomłoty, Sanctuary of in Jabłeczna, Podlaskie’s Uniates, by J. Gumowski by J. Gumowski Drohiczyn Bu g Vysokaje (Wysokie Litewskie) ­organized an escape, Niemirów and approximately Gnojno Łosice Białoruś Žabinka 300 managed to Mordy Wygoda lublin Liw run away. After iec Janów Ljasnaja Włodawa. Tourist Information Centre, ul. Partyzantów 25, B Green Velo Eastern Cycle Trail Podlaski ug tel.: +48 82 5717073, [email protected]. FHU Grażka II – this event, the Pratulin Tourist Information Centre, Rynek 4, tel.: +48 82 5722069, camp was razed a [email protected]. Krzn Brest (Brześć) to the ground Section from Gnojno to Chełm na and then ploughed Krz Biała

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Świdnik W i e War II a Nazi death camp was located is demonstrated by the rare and protect- local kirkut (Jewish cemetery) is from pr z Bagno Serebryskie in the Sobibór Forest. Approximately ed species of plants and animals found 1442. While in Chełm, make sure Bełżyce Piaski Chełm 250,000 Jews were exterminated here. in this area. The birds deserve special at- you visit the historic chalk un- From Gnojno l Uda B u In the summer of 1943 its prisoners tention, including the harrier, the aquatic derground tunnels, which to Chełm g Chełm. Tourist Information Centre in Chełm, 0 10 km warbler, and the Eurasian curlew. form a unique testament to ul. Lubelska 63, tel.: +48 82 5653667, www.itchelm.pl. Museum of the the chalk mining industry in Former Sobibór Europe and the world. Death Camp, by S. Turski Published by www.greenvelo.pl Project Office – Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship’s Regional Tourist Organisation tower next to the temple. Other impor- ul. Ściegiennego 2, 25-033 Kielce tant monuments in Chełm include phone/fax +48 41 3618057, +48 41 3655182 [email protected] the Uściługska Gate, the late-Ba- www.rot.swietokrzyskie.travel roque Church of the Sending www.greenvelo.pl Publication prepared and issued by Amistad Sp. z o.o.– Program PolskaTurystyczna.pl of the Apostles, the neo- pl. Na Groblach 8/2, 31-101 Kraków, phone: +48 12 4229922, classical Orthodox Church e-mail: [email protected], www.polskaturystyczna.pl ISBN 978-83-7560-175-6 of John the ­Evangelist, and the Orthodox

EUROPEAN UNION Church of St. Nicholas. EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND Serebryskie Bog, European Fund for the development of Eastern Poland A project financed by the European Regional Development Fund within the Eastern Poland Development 2007-2013 by J. Gumowski Operational Programme EASTERN CYCLE TRAIL