Szydłowiec between sandstone and urban history

Stoneworking and walking paths

Stoneworking has been one of the most important crafts in Szydłowiec for more than 600 years. The educational trail “Szydłowiec – miasto na kamieniu” runs through the town; on a walk, you can discover important architectural monuments built from sandstone. At the Podkowiński quarry, there are walking paths and viewing terraces. The focus differs: the educational trail draws attention to the town’s buildings, while the quarry offers paths and viewpoints within the quarry.

Market square and historic sites

St. Sigismund’s Church stands on the south side of the Great Market Square, making it a clear landmark in the townscape. The Lodownia also tells a story of local history: it is a former cellar belonging to the Stumpf and Engeman brewery, where malt and beer were stored. The cellar was hewn into the rock, and its walls are lined with sandstone.

The Jewish cemetery of Szydłowiec was established in the second half of the 17th century and is one of the largest preserved Jewish cemeteries in Poland. Its long history and significance offer a different perspective from the stone buildings and former brewing industry.

Relaxation at the reservoir and culinary heritage

The Szydłowiec reservoir is a place for relaxation and recreation. It adds another option for spending time outdoors to the walking routes through the town and around the quarry. Which of these options you plan to focus on may also be relevant when choosing the location of your holiday apartment.

From 2017 to 2019, a culinary trail showcased the town’s traditional cuisine as part of the “Jak smakuje Szydłowiec” project. It included nine food and drink establishments, each of which offered at least one dish, meal or product from Szydłowiec’s traditional cuisine.

In the wider Szydłowiecki destination

For additional context, it is worth looking at the wider Szydłowiecki destination. Between 1470 and 1480, Stanisław Szydłowiecki built a brick castle in Szydłowiec. It stands on an artificial island in the floodplain of the Korzeniówka River. The Museum of Folk Musical Instruments was founded in 1968 and is considered the world’s first independent museum dedicated to folk musical instruments. It opened in Szydłowiec Castle in 1975; its exhibitions are housed in the castle chambers, including three permanent exhibitions.

At Eksperymentarium Dźwięku, a unique venue in Poland located in one of the castle’s oldest chambers, visitors can play rare musical instruments and create digital compositions. The town hall also adds to the picture of the town’s history: it was built between 1602 and 1629. Its tower houses a reconstructed workshop of Władysław Malecki and a viewing terrace; the gallery offers sweeping views of the surrounding area.

The Szydłowiecki destination offers cycling routes of varying lengths. A description published in 2016 gives the length of cycle route No. 1 as 23 kilometres, with a 33-kilometre variant; the route runs from Szydłowiec via Szydłowiec PKP, Sadek and Barak, then back to Szydłowiec. Check route conditions before setting off. Cycle route No. 6 is 25 kilometres long and starts and ends in Szydłowiec. At 23 kilometres, route No. 1 is shorter than route No. 6’s 25 kilometres; the variant is longer.

Choosing the right location for your stay

If you want the market square and historic buildings to shape your stay, look for a holiday apartment in a location that suits your planned visits to the town. If you plan to focus on walking paths around the quarry or time at the reservoir, it is also worth matching the accommodation’s exact location to your itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Sulistrowice, Ostałówek, Chustki, Jastrząb, Chlewiska.

Back to the wider travel overview: Szydłowiecki.