Drzewica – Water, Sport and Local History
Accommodation in Drzewica
Zalew Drzewicki, canoeing and the town’s history reveal different sides of Drzewica. The 81-hectare body of water is used for recreation and leisure. In 2010, a 508-metre-long, illuminated and marked footpath and cycle path was built on the north shore. These details make the path a clearly defined option for planning your day: you can include a short walk or cycle ride in your stay and otherwise focus on the water, sport or local history.
File:Drzewica, kościół par. p.w. św. Łukasza Ewangelisty 01.JPG
Photo: NowackiLuk via Source, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl
Water, Exercise and Leisure
Alongside the footpath and cycle path is a floating T-shaped pier made up of two sections, with an access walkway. It is 15.4 metres long. As the facilities may change, check the pier’s current condition before visiting. There is a free, supervised bathing area with a beach and beach volleyball court at 2 Zdrojowa Street. Check its current opening arrangements and supervision before your visit.
The Drzewica Sports and Leisure Centre at Zalew Drzewicki is a local hub for water sports and operates from May to September. If you are planning your trip around this season, check the current opening hours in advance. This will help you fit your interest in water sports into your holiday plans without having to base your entire stay on a single activity.
There is also a playground along the footpath and cycle path on the north shore. The town of Drzewica describes it as the best-equipped playground of its kind. For a stay with children, it provides another specific place to visit alongside the water and the path; your group can decide which of these activities should shape the day based on its interests.
From Blast Furnace to Canoe Slalom
The history of Zalew dates back to the era of local ironworking. The body of water was created to supply a blast furnace, the construction of which Filip Szaniawski began in 1760. To supply water, a large pond covering 8.6 hectares was formed by damming the water at a suitable point. This figure refers to the historic pond, not the 81-hectare Zalew Drzewicki.
Canoe slalom is also part of the town’s history. Canoe slalom began in Drzewica in 1978, when a canoeing section was established. A new kayak course was officially opened in 2005 and was among the most modern slalom courses in Europe at the time.
Church, Square and Routes Around Town
The Church of St Luke was founded by the Drzewicki family in 1315 and made a parish church by Wojciech Drzewicki in 1321. A statue of St John of Nepomuk, donated by Ludwika Szaniawska in 1788, stands in the square in front of the church. Two historical dates thus come together in one place: the church’s early history and a later monument in the square outside.
Today, a park occupies most of Plac Wolności in the historic centre. It was laid out in the 1950s and features lime and acacia trees. A described cycling route runs along Kilińskiego Street to Plac Wolności, where there is a large information board. The route and the square offer further ways to explore Drzewica’s townscape alongside its water and sport.
Quest routes offer another way to discover Drzewica. You can follow them using the free-to-download “Questy - Wyprawy Odkrywców” app or Quest maps. The maps are available from the Regional Cultural Centre and Drzewica Town Hall; if you plan to use a map, check its availability in advance.
Choose the Right Focus for Your Stay
When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Drzewica, you can start by considering what you want your days away to focus on: leisure at Zalew, exercise on the footpath and cycle path, the history of canoeing or the town’s historic character. These themes offer different starting points for planning, without requiring you to limit yourself to just one side of the town.
Discover more destinations: Celestynów, Opoczno, Małoszyce
Go to the overarching travel guide: Opoczno.
