Bolesławiec County: Discover ceramics, culture and landscapes
Accommodation in Bolesławiec County
The history of ceramics, historic town routes and paths through forests and meadows offer different reasons to explore Bolesławiec County. In Bolesławiec, a centuries-old ceramics tradition takes centre stage; the wider Bolesławiec County also encompasses protected landscapes and other historic sites. When planning your trip, you can start by considering whether you mainly want to experience ceramics and the town’s history, learn about traditional techniques or set aside time for scenic routes.
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Photo: Antosh via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl
Ceramics and town history in Bolesławiec
The Muzeum Ceramiki w Bolesławcu collects materials on the history of the town and the Bolesławiec region, the development of Bolesławiec ceramics, and contemporary ceramic sculptures by artists taking part in the ceramic plenary sessions in Bolesławiec. This brings together the town’s history, the development of a long-established craft and contemporary ceramic works. Since April 2024, the collections of the ceramics department and the town history department have been on display in newly designed, modern premises. A revitalised historic park adjoins the museum. Check current access arrangements before your visit.
The Muzeum Ceramiki offers guided tours of the town along five historic routes; one route must be selected when booking. Options include “Szlak ceramików i rzeźbiarzy”. Another historic walking tour in Bolesławiec, “Szlak średniowiecznych budowniczych i kopaczy złota”, includes the town hall, the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nicholas, the town walls, and a monument commemorating the construction of the water and sewerage network in 1531. If you plan to take a guided tour, check current booking options with the museum.
Get hands-on with ceramics
Nearby, the Centrum Dawnych Technik Garncarskich offers workshops in various stages of the process: throwing pottery on the wheel and decorating ceramics, as well as making bas-reliefs and small sculptures. Other activities include casting vessels in moulds and impressing designs in plaster moulds. This range of activities makes the different techniques tangible, from shaping a vessel to creating sculptural works. Individuals and groups can visit the Centrum without a guide by prior appointment. Check current operating details before travelling there.
Routes, forest landscapes and regional differences
The lowland “Puszczański” route runs between Zebrzydowa and Bolesławiec and is 34 kilometres long in total. Of this, 16 kilometres lie in Gmina Osiecznica and five kilometres in Gmina Bolesławiec. The route runs mostly through large forest areas; a significant part of its section in Gmina Bolesławiec passes through meadows. The figures thus clearly distinguish the total length from the sections in the two municipalities. The changing landscape is also worth considering when planning: forests define most of the route, while meadows characterise the described section in Gmina Bolesławiec.
In the wider Bolesławiec County, Bory Dolnośląskie is one of ten Natura 2000 sites and also one of four protected landscape areas. Przemkowski Landscape Park is one of the landscape parks in the county; Dolina Czarnej Wody is also one of its four protected landscape areas. Brzeźnik is one of the three nature reserves in Bolesławiec County. These designations offer a broader view of the region’s protected landscapes, while the Puszczański route, with its length and sections in different municipalities, provides a practical route reference.
Other historic themes complete the picture: the manor house in Warta Bolesławiecka acquired its Renaissance appearance in the first half of the 16th century. In Gmina Nowogrodziec, Pieczenica (Pečenica), a feast featuring roasted suckling pig, is a symbol of cultural heritage; the customs associated with it are still observed there today. If you are looking for a holiday rental, these different interests can help guide your choice of location: ceramics and town history, a hands-on introduction to pottery or scenic routes each offer a different focus for your trip.
Ceramics festival in August
Bolesławieckie Święto Ceramiki takes place annually in August in the town of Bolesławiec; dates and programme may change. The 32nd edition took place from 19 to 23 August 2026. Over five days, a ceramics market was held in the Rynek and on ul. Prusa. If you would like to attend a future edition, check the latest event dates and programme in advance.
Discover more destinations: Osiecznica, Zebrzydowa, Kliczków, Bunzlau, Raciborowice Górne, Kraśnik Dolny, Naumburg Am Queis, Kruszyn.
Return to the wider travel overview: Lower Silesia.
