Wieprz on the Soła: Art, History and Nature

Wieprz lies on the right bank of the Soła and brings together several very different discoveries: a Stone Age settlement, art in a church, nature-related topics centred on the river, and opportunities for active recreation. Families looking for a holiday destination where culture, activity and nature can be explored as distinct interests will find concrete ideas here to help plan their trip.

Art and History in Wieprz

An exhibition of sculptures by Anna Ficoń, a folk artist and sculptor, is on display in the Church of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church’s history also offers a distinct perspective on art: from 1963 to 1966, Maria Antonina Kozłowska (1903–1994) and Zofia Szczerba (1920–2001) created sgraffito polychrome decorations inside the church. The exhibition and the interior design thus bring different artistic accents to the same church.

Another historic site lies in the Chyśkowiec fields on the southwestern flank of the Grojec massif: a Stone Age settlement. Its archaeological, historical and cultural value is high, and the settlement itself is protected by law. The listed chapel dating from 1886 on the main road adds a building from a much later period to these traces of history.

Wieprz’s cultural life also includes Wiesław Pawlus, who works as a paper-cut artist, embroiderer and storyteller. Alongside the works in the church and the archaeological evidence, this local figure offers further perspectives on art and tradition in the village.

The Soła, Nature and a Planned Route

The Environmental Education Centre in Wieprz hosts exhibitions about protected plants and animals, as well as vegetation along the banks of the Soła. Topics include fish, fishing and the fight against poaching. Visitors interested in nature and waterways can make these a focus of their stay. Fishing in the mountain river Soła is also mentioned in Wieprz as a recreational option, as are cycling routes.

A planned nature and walking route is to begin at Radziechowy-Wieprz railway station, pass through Wieprz and continue to the summit of Grojec. The area around Grojec features extensive fields and herb-rich meadows with wild vegetation. One of the highest-altitude peat bogs in the Beskids lies along the route from Wieprz to Grojec. The nature and walking route is planned.

Active Recreation and Different Holiday Interests

Wieprz has a fenced and supervised active recreation facility. It includes two volleyball courts and two pétanque courts, as well as a multi-purpose sports court that can be used for football, basketball and volleyball. The facility also has a playground and a tennis court. The different areas offer specific opportunities for exercise and playing together, without limiting the holiday to a single sport.

Another way to discover Wieprz is the Góralska Way of the Cross. It was established in 2016 and takes place annually, leading from the church along Kościelna, Zagórczańska and Żywiecka streets before returning to the church. Alongside nature and sport, this religious route offers another reason to visit the village.

Which holiday apartment in Wieprz is right for your trip depends above all on which of these aspects you would like to focus on: art and history, nature-related topics around the Soła, active recreation or the Way of the Cross. The activities described here cater to different interests without combining them into a single excursion programme. If you would like to explore more village pages, you can find Sopotnia Wielka, Soblówka, Kamesznica, Milowka, Zwardoń, Ślemień, Żabnica and Czernichów here.

For the overall travel overview: Żywiec.