Byszyce: Church History and Excursion Route

Byszyce brings together tangible evidence of church history and an excursion route listed by the PTTK, which starts in the village and leads to Wieliczka. The wayside crosses also have their own historical dates. In the wider Wieliczka destination, mining history, churches and other routes offer more to explore. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can therefore start by considering whether your trip will focus mainly on Byszyce itself, the route from Byszyce, or other places in the wider Wieliczka destination.

Church and Wayside Crosses in Byszyce

An image of the Virgin Mary is located in the altar of the church in Byszyce. On 4 October 1958, Bishop Karol Wojtyła prayed before the image of the Virgin Mary in the church. Another church-historical landmark is the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Byszyce: Archbishop Jędraszewski consecrated it on 7 October 2017. The prayer in 1958 and the consecration in 2017 are distinct, clearly dated events. Together, they give local church history a broad timespan without requiring a lengthy chronicle.

The wayside crosses also point to different dates. The first, unnamed wayside cross in Byszyce was erected around 1886. The present-day oak wayside cross was erected on 14 September 2022. Those interested in local places of remembrance will find specific dates relating to the history of the wayside crosses alongside the church events.

An excursion route listed by the PTTK starts in Byszyce and leads via Koźmice Wielkie, Janowice and Wolica to Wieliczka. The sequence of places gives the tour a clear destination. Before setting out, check the current route and local conditions, as the route description does not specify its present condition or current signage.

In the Wider Wieliczka Destination

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is part of the UNESCO World Heritage property “Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines”. The Miners’ Route includes 7 to 14 extraction chambers in the rugged mine workings around the oldest preserved Regis shaft and is up to 2 kilometres long. The description alone shows how this tour differs from the excursion route from Byszyce: the Miners’ Route is defined by the number of extraction chambers and its maximum length, while the PTTK route is defined by the sequence of places leading to Wieliczka. Check the current visitor regulations before visiting the Miners’ Route.

The churches in the wider Wieliczka destination also reflect different historical periods. The wooden Church of St Sebastian in Wieliczka was built in 1582 and contains Renaissance paintings. The Church of St Clement in Wieliczka was founded in 1381 by the townspeople; architectural elements from the 13th and 14th centuries have been preserved in it. The Franciscan church and monastery were the first stone church of the Lesser Poland Reformers’ Province and were built in the first half of the 17th century. Comparing these dates makes the different historical layers of the buildings tangible.

Other historical stops in the wider Wieliczka destination are in Grabie and Siercza. The Parish Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Grabie dates from 1742; its Gothic stone baptismal font dates from the 15th century. In Siercza, the Ursuline convent is housed in a former Lubomirski palace dating from around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. These buildings offer a different focus from Wieliczka’s mining history and the church landmarks in Byszyce.

The routes in the wider Wieliczka destination also differ in type. The yellow route is a hiking and cycling route between Wieliczka and Dobczyce. The red cycling route forms a 27-kilometre loop through Wieliczka and Siercza. The “Las i stawy na Grabówkach” ecological protected area lies along a hiking and cycling route from Wieliczka. Siercza also has a riding stable offering horse riding under the guidance of an instructor; check current availability if you plan this activity.

A dated notice applies to Zamek Żupny and its courtyard: on 8 September 2026, both were closed for renovation work, which is expected to continue until the end of 2028. Check the current status before visiting.

Plan Your Stay Around the Places You Want to Visit

Whether Byszyce or other places in the wider Wieliczka destination are the focus will affect your choice of places to visit during your stay. If you are mainly planning to explore the church history, wayside crosses and excursion route from Byszyce, you will have different priorities than on a trip focused on mining, churches and cycling routes in Wieliczka. Decide which stops you want to visit, then compare the location of a holiday apartment with your own travel plans. This way, your search will reflect the places and activities that really matter to you.

Discover more destinations: Czyżów, Kłaj, Niepołomice, Zabawa, Węgrzce Wielkie, Łysokanie, Koźmice Wielkie, Mała Wieś.

See the wider travel overview: Wieliczka.