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Bochnia Commune's Location |
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Bochnia Commune is situated on the borderline between two
geographical regions: the Sandomierska Dale (Kotlina
Sandomierska - northern part of the commune's territory) and the
Wielickie Foothills (Pogórze Wielickie - southern part of the
commune's territory).
The commune consists of 31 townships which cover the total area
of 130 km2 with the number of residents exceeding 18 000. Its
territory spreads over about 50 km along the Raba and Stradomka
rivers and their tributaries. The commune's area is cut almost
in half by the E-4 Dresden-Kraków-Lvov International Road, a
railway line and, in the near future, the A-4 highway.
The international Kraków-Balice airport is only
40 km away. |
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The commune's beautiful and varied landscape combines flat
fields and meadows of the Raba river valley in the north
(including the largest forest area of the Niepołomice Virgin
Forest -Puszcza Niepołomicka) and the picturesque mountainous
area in the south, from where one can admire the panoramic view
of the Beskid Wyspowy mountain range, and in good weather, even
the Tatra and Pieniny mountain ranges |
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History |
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Considering the historical attractiveness, Bochnia Commune
belongs to the most interesting districts in the Lesser Poland
(Małopolska). Early settlements dating back to the prehistoric
domain of Vistulians (Wiślanie) flourished in two neighboring
centers: Łapczyca and Chełm. Łapczyca (in Latin referred to as:
Labscicia et cum sole - Łapczyca with salt) was mentioned in
Cardinal Idzi's edict of 1105 as the property of the Tyniec
Benedictine Monastery. Łapczyca is a village of the longest
unwritten history in the region, one of the oldest villages in
southern Poland and also one of the most significant early
settlements in the Bochnia region. There are some traces of a
medieval fortified castle (grodzisko) which enjoyed its
magnificence from the 9th through 11 th cc. A site of the
greatest historic value is a gothic church founded by King
Casimir the Great (Kazimierz Wielki) in 1360 as an expiatory
gift. Since 1849 pilgrimages from Bochnia to the Łapczyca
historic church are held annually in order to commemorate the
town's miraculous salvation from an epidemics of cholera. |
Monachus - the Patriarch of Jerusalem is the author of a
document dated 1198, confirming that a magnate - Mikora of the
Gryfit Family - donated the Chełm village to the Friars of the
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem based at
Miechów along with the feudal dues (dziesięcina - the tenth part
of a serf s income due to the feudal lord), village fair and
even 'karczma' - the local inn. Salt - the greatest natural
wealth of the region - was discovered in consequence of their
activities and, in effect, led to the foundation of the town of
Bochnia operating in compliance with Magdeburg law from 1253.
Since 1999 the Parish Museum of the Equestrian Order of the Holy
Sepulchre (Bożogrobcy) has been operating at Chełm. Its founder
and custodian is the parish priest of the local church under the
invocation of St. John the Babtist - Rev. Antoni Tworek. The
most valuable exhibits are gold and silver embroidered chasubles
dating from the 17th through 19th cc., a monstrance and an
alms-box dating from the 17th and 18th cc. Some of the exhibits
are stored at the local belfry. Since 2004 the museum has been
acting as the premises of the "Chełm" Art Gallery. Every year a
great outdoor event is organized at Chełm - Wianki Świętojańskie
(floating wreaths on the Raba river on St. John's Eve), which
combines some elements of pagan beliefs with the Christian
tradition of St. John's holiday.
In the northern part of the commune's territory, at Bessów, some
traces of early settlements dating back to the 4th and 5th cc.
A. D. were preserved - some pottery and primitive smelting
furnaces used for iron metallurgical processing and primitive
farm tools production. In 1970ies of the 20th century numerous
sensational archeological discoveries were made re, which turned
the village into a researchers' "El Dorado". According to a
legend, some Tartar warriors who invaded Poland during the
Crimean 13th c. settled at Cerekwia. |
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Brzeźnica is another very old village (first chronicled in
1242). It is situated in the eastern part of the commune's
territory. From 1242 onwards it enjoyed municipal rights for a
few years. According to a legend, St. Stanisław of Szczepanów,
then the Bishop of Cracow, was persecuted by King Boleslaus the
Bold and had to escape from Kraków. City residents refused to
give him water and accommodation. Having spent the night on a
haystack, he raised his hands to heaven, prayed and hit the
ground with his truncheon. Since that time, a spring of cristal
clear water, regarded as 'miraculous' by the local people, has
been gushing at the site. Other historic localities are:
Krzyżanowice, Nieszkowice, Bogucice, Pogwizdów and Stanisławice
situated at the fringe of the Niepołomice Virgin Forest (Puszcza
Niepołomicka). The forest was first mentioned in a document of
1242, where it was referred to as "the Kłaj Forest" (Las Kłaj).
In 1393 it was referred to as "the Niepołomice Forest" (Las
Niepołomicki), and in 1441 the name "Niepołomice Virgin Forest"
(Puszcza Niepołomicka) was used for the first time. The name
"niepołomicka" derives from an old Polish word "niepołomny"
which denoted something hard, unbreakable or indestructible.
Throughout Poland's history the forest belonged to me State
Treasury. For years it was an excellent hunting area used by the
Polish kings. A forest trail called "the Royal Route" was used
by the hunting kings, penetrating deep into the forest: Casimir
the Great (Kazimierz Wielki), Ladislaus Jagiełło (Władysław
Jagiełło), Sigismund the Old (Zygmunt Stary), Sigismund Augustus
(Zygmunt August), Stephen Bathory (Stefan Batory) or Augustus
III of Saxony (August III Sas). Big game was hunted for at the
time: bear, wild pig, auroch, moose, deer, bison and wolf. |
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During the partitions, 'work at the foudations' characterized
the localities neighboring Bochnia. Most of their inhabitants
contributed to the restitution of Poland's sovereignty with
their military effort and the sacrifice of their lives. An
obelisk in the centre of Łapczyca is memorial to the personage
of Józef Chwałkowski, who was killed in the January Uprising of
1863. The history of Gawłów is also extremely interesting. Until
1945 he village had been inhabited by former German colonists
and their descendants who settled there after the first
Partition of Poland. Until World War II, at the neighboring
Majkowice village, there had even been a German school. Another
fact worth attention, is that the Polish and German communities
coexisted here for one and a half century in full harmony and
mutual respect. During World War II the region of Bochnia
experienced many tragic events. On 10 September 1939 the
region's biggest battle took place at the fringe of fringe
Niepołomice Virgin Forest (Puszcza Niepołomicka). Over 50
soldiers of the Kraków Army (Armia Kraków) were killed in the
strife. Another local drama was shooting by the Germans of over
500 Jews at Baczków - by way of liquidation of the Bochnia's
ghetto as of 25 August 1942. Today the monuments at the fringe
of the forest testify to the fact. The Pilots' Monument erected
at Nieszkowice Wielkie reminds us of the heroic "Liberator"
team, who were killed on their attempt to help the fighting
soldiers of the Warsaw Uprising. On the eve of the Liberation
Day, in January 1945, Germans pacified the Grabina village and
shot many residents. |
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Via Regia Antiqua |
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The
most interesting tourist trail of Bochnia Commune is the ancient
royal route 'Via Regia Antiqua'. This historic trail is a
section of the Amber Route also referred to as the Royal Route.
As early as the 12th century it served the function of a
transport and trade artery linking Europe with Rus and Hungary.
Merchant caravans used to pass the way with wagons loaded with
Bochnia's salt, Flandrian cloth, Baltic amber, copper and
Hungarian wine. Also princes' or kings' retinues, heading for
the capital city in the nearby Kraków could be encountered
there. The Route proceeds from Bochnia via two ancient
localities of Łapczyca and Chełm and, lastly, Moszczenica
characterized with wild landscape. Formerly, fine vineyards were
spreading across the area, which is commemorated by the name of
the local hill - "Vineyard" (Winnica), preserved until today.
This unique route allows the visitor to admire simultaneously
the panorama of the Raba River Gorge, the Niepołomice Virgin
Forest (Puszcza Niepołomicka) as well as the Beskid Wyspowy and
Tatras mountain ranges.
Numerous interesting sites are situated at the Route: "A gothic
church at Łapczyca, dating from 1340, founded by King Casimir
the Great (Kazimierz Wielki) - according to a legend - as a
penance for his love affair with Esther (Esterka) - a beautiful
Jewish girl from Kazimierz. Until 1733 the temple had served the
function of a parish church. At the beginning of the 19th
century the temple was closed down and partly devastated by
plunderers who were looking for treasures there. At present, it
functions as a chapel. Originally, it was a double-chamber
edifice with stellar vaults (lierne vaults) supported by two
pillars - at present replaced with apparent vaults. At the
entrance there are pointed-arch portals dating back to the 15th
century. The church is encircled by old linden trees (natural
monuments). Next to the church there is an 18th c. chamber
belfry. Every year in July this beautiful temple is revived,
when on the holiday of Our Lady of Mount Carmel a pilgrimage
arrives from Bochnia to commemorate the miraculous salvation
from the epidemics of cholera in 1849. |
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Rest and
Recreational centers |
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Hospice and Ski-Lift at Wola Nieszkowska
The hospice located at the village (10 km away from Bochnia) is situated
about 350 meters above sea level. It is open all year long and it has
20 bedrooms, a kitchen, a fire-place room, club-room and also a
barbecue and fire spot. Next to the hospice, along the northern slope,
of around 500 meters' length, there is a trapeze ski-lift. In winter the
ski-slope is illuminated and artificially snowed. One can get there by
bus (municipal line No 2), which takes about 15 minutes, or in one's own
car. There are two car-parks prepared for tourists: at the top of the
hill next to the hospice and at the foot of the hill next to the
ski-lift. |
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Indoor Swimming Pool
At Proszówki, next to the 'Bochnia-Zielona' public road No 965, there is
a modern sports and education center, comprising an indoor swimming pool
heated by solar collectors (the only facility of this kind in the whole
Lesser Poland /Małopolska) and a complex of sport fields and tennis
courts. In winter an artificially refrigerated ice-rink (the only in the
region) and a skate rental agency are open there. The complex also
possesses a hotel infrastructure enabling the organization of the so
called 'green school' camps. The swimming pool complex is not a large,
but a very modern facility.
The main pool, measuring 25m x 12.5m (6 lanes), 1.2m - 1.8m deep, holds
a Polish Swimming Federation certificate authorizing the organization of
swimming contests there. Varied depth levels enable the organization of
swimming classes for beginners and guarantee security to all users.
The recreational pool, measuring 12m x 6m, provides good fun and
relaxation. It has been equipped with needle bath, particularly useful
for rehabilitation purposes. Its warmer water especially attracts the
youngest. The rehabilitation pool (jacuzzi) for 12 persons is filled
with iodide-bromine brine from the Łapczyca deposit. It also possesses
some intensive aqua-massage equipment. A 48 meters' long water slide is
an extra attraction. The facility possesses an impressive
car-park. Transport by public buses (lines 7 and 8) from the center of
Bochnia. |
"Neptun" Fishery
At Nieprześnia, next to the 'Pogwizdów Sobolów' public road, there is a
fishery providing agrotourist services. At the site visitors can enjoy
fishing, use aqua bikes or boa; and, in the evening, they can feast on
fried Nearby, in the former manor park there conference-recreational
center with 50 hotel rooms The renovated Nieprześnia and Zawada manor;
houses exemplify perfect harmony of architecture and landscape.
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Cycling routes
The beauty of the 'Bochnia' land can be admired during cycling trips.
The following routes are especially worth recommending:
-The so called "Upper Highway" (Górny Gościniec), proceeding from
Bochnia via Łapczyca to Chełm; from where one can admire the Raba River
meanders and the Niepołomice Virgin Forest (Puszcza Niepołomicka).
-The 'Czyżyczka-Berdychów' public road, linking Gierczyce and Pogwizdów,
from where
a fascinating panorama of the Beskid Wyspowy Mountains and the ancient
Via Regia Antiqua route can be observed.
-The 'Gorzków-Brzeźnica' loessic gorge, whose unique mood attracts
crowds of cyclists and tourists.
- The 'Buczyna-Stradomka' public road descending from Borek Hill (Góra
Borek) down a very steep slope. The emotions induced and the beautiful
views observed will make the site well-planted in tourists' memory.
-The cycling routes around the Niepołomice Virgin Forest and forest
cuttings are excellent sites for cycling sports and biology classes. |
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