We invite every one to visit the Busko-Zdrój region. Natural resources, uncontaminated environment, captivating landscapes and the wonderful health resort with over 170-year tradition attract tourists who seek relax and leisure opportunities.
The trail runs between two health resorts: Busko and Solec. It starts at the PKS bus station in the health-resort-part of the town and leads through territories on the southern side of the Pińczowski Hump. On the route there are numerous outcrops of gypsum rocks and Mesozoic hills (Radzanowska Góra in the vicinity of Owczary and Pęczelice), habitat of halophytic plants (“Owczary” reserve), burial moud (Żerniki Górne), settlement from the turn of the 7th-8th / 9th centuries (Góra Kapturowa), historic mills from the beginning of the 20th century (Skotniki Małe) and beautiful shrines characteristic of the Ponidzie territory. On Kamienna Góra there is a good point from which you can see the Solec Basin.
This trail has been divided into five sections due the access possibilities.
It starts at the PKS bust stop, near the Zwierzyniec village (by the route Busko-Kielce). When you go along a gully through a forest, you get to the Zwierzyniec village (0.8 km). On the left there is a valley and behind it the Pińczowski Hump from which you can see Busko, Mikułowice, Nowy Folwark and Kameduły.
We get to the Wymysłów hamlet (1.3 km) where to the left, 50 m from the trail, there is a source. Further, this picturesque route runs in the form of a traverse. Go past an outcrop of very fragile limestone, in Szaniec cross the road by the PKS bus stop and before the cemetery turn left. In the cemetery there is a chapel from 1876 and graves of Podhale Rifles who died in the fight against the Nazis near Bronina. Behind it on the right there is a longitudinal hill – Kamnica with a limestone quarry. This limestone is used for constructing a number of buildings in the nearby villages. Then, you get to the Galów village (5.8 km) where you pass the PKS bus stop (7 km), go over the hill and leave the main road. The trail runs along the railway track Busko-Kielce, then through the fields (remember not to turn right!) to the Jata hamlet (10 km) and through the forest to the level crossing (11.5 km). Our trail does not cross the track, but turns right. By the road sign “stop” there is a field rock with the indication of year 1863 at the back. You are just in the battle-field of the January Uprising. Here, go in the nearby forest, pass a wilderness hut and get to a memorial rock which was placed there on the 110th anniversary of the battle. Close to it grow picturesquely twisted pine trees. This is the Grochowiska village where the green trail ends.
You start the trail at the PKS Zwierzyniec bus stop by the road Kielce-Busko which leads to Kołaczkowice. Here, on the right in the distance you can see Busko-Zdrój on the hills of the Pińczkowski Hump. Go through the village Elżbiecin and just outside the village, when the road begins to run up (2 km) and when you see in front of you buildings of Kolonia Wschodnia Mikułowice, turn left to Zbrodzice. In the village there is a source rich in water and further, in the distance there is a forest. When you pass the peak of the road you can see a view of the Połaniec Basin. Then, you get to the forest (5.7 km) and leave it by going up a very steep climb to the road on the edge of it. Now, you are at the level of about 300 m AMSL and when you go all along the edge of the forest, you will get to the road Busko-Widuchowa (8.3 km) where you will find the PKS bus stop. Then again, through the forest and the fields. Here, you will see a peak of a burial mound to which you will get in a while. At the beginning of Żerniki Górne turn right and soon at the distance of 150 m you will see a 3.5 thousand-year-old grave-burial mound. While leaving Żerniki, you go along a field road to the east (11.5 km) which runs up and after some time you will see two distinguishable hills: Czarownica and Biała Góra. Behind the highest peak of this road, you have a vast view of the church tower in Szczaworyż. Go past the church and then walk to the east. On the right there is a waterhole and a road with the PKS bus stop. When you leave the village, go to the picturesque 1000 m long loess gully. By going along the bottom of the gully you will get to the Błoniec village behind which there is another village Nowa Wieś (15.2 km). First, through a tunnel formed by trees and shrubs and then along the gully until you get to the fertile loess fields. Behind a small hill, on the left there is a waterhole and water intake. When you get to a crossing in Kolonia Strzałków, don’t go in the village, because the trail turns right. Here is the beginning of Smogorzów and after you have passed the first house, turn left. Then, when you already leave the village and go along a field road, you will see a view of e.g.: the sulphur mine in Grzybów, chimneys of the power plant in Połaniec and a red roof the church in Stopnica which emerges as first. Go in the Prusy village which belonged to Jan Rytwiański – a castellan of Cracow. Afterwards, you will see a shrine from 1890 with a sculpture of the Pensive Christ and behind it you must turn right. Go across the stream which has its source nearby and you get to the road (22.2 km). Now, you are in Stopnica where you walk along the walls of the priory of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Further, on the right there is a moat behind which you can see a castle built by Casimir the Great. On the left there is the Stopniczanka River and a watermill. Today, it is an electric mill. Then, you get to the church hill, marketplace and the PKS bus stop where this stage of the green trail ends.
c. Solec-Zdrój - Stopnica (16 km).
At the beginning, this trail and the red one overlap. When you go through the fields, you will get to the main road in Włosnowice (2.8 km). Behind the village, before a cross from 1891 turn right into the field road. While walking along this picturesque path, you will see robinias. On the left behind shrubs there are remnants of an old brickyard. Then, you go along the forest and cross the road Zborów-Piestrzec (4.3 km). Further, keep walking in the same direction - first, along the field road, then through the forest and finally across the farmlands until you get to Magierów (7 km). On the left you will have a good view of Solec-Zdrój and a vast low-lying area formed by the Vistula and Nida Rivers which join in this place. Afterwards, cross the road Stopnica-Solec by the PKS bus stop and next to the car park walk in the forest. Go along the gully to get to a hunting house which belongs to a hunting circle. Now, walk along the road which runs in parallel with the forest’s edge. For a while you will have a view of Pułanki and Kików and in the distance of Solec. Behind the branchy oak turn right into the forest and walk up the road. On the left there is an overgrown, difficult to go through gully. On the route along which you are walking now, in early spring you can see daphne mezereum blossoming. When you leave the forest, walk along a spiral road through the fields to the hard-surface road in Ponik. Further, through the forest to the Wolica village (13.4 km). Just at the beginning of Wolica turn right into the parallel road and go past the dormant limestone quarry until you get to the water intake. Behind the buildings, on the hill you will already see a roof of the church in Stopnica. The PKS Stopnica bus stop and the marketplace mark the end of this stage of the hike.
d. Solec-Zdrój - Nowy Korczyn (17 km).
The trail starts at the PKS bus stop. Go through the spa park and the forest along a spiral path to the main road in Chinków (3.1 km). Here, among trees there is an original cross made of shells and bullets from the last war. We go through the fields heading for Rzegocin. Behind the shop (6 km) turn right, walk through the forest and then keep walking along the meadows. In the distance on the right you will see a forest and a church in Piasek Wielki. Walk along the main road across Badrzychowice to the road Busko-Nowy Korczyn (9.1 km). Then, the field path leads to the church in Strożyska. Meanwhile, past the cemetery on the left there will be a shrine of the Pensive Christ from 1696. Once you are in Strożyska, walk across the Przymiarki hamlet until you get to Sępichów (13 km). Then, the trail runs through wet lands near the Nida River to a water-supply station, a graveyard with ruins of a chapel from the beginnings of the 20th century, marketplace and the PKS bust stop in Nowy Korczyn where this stage of the green trail ends.
e. Wiślica - Nowy Korczyn (21 km).
In Wiślica, start going from the marketplace to the Nida bridge. At the crossing turn towards Koniecmosty. When you leave this village, walk all along the narrow-gauge track. On the right there is a shrine with a cone-shaped roof, an inscription in Latin and the date 1541. When you get to Brodek (4.5 km), behind the first houses turn left and walk along a field path until you are in the village Wawrowice. Here, at the fork of the roads before the shrine (6.1 km) turn left and walk all along the gully to the peak of the road where you must turn right into a field path. Now, you will have a marvellous view of the Nida Valley. This is one of the best viewing points of Ponidzie. Go down along a small gully until you reach the road Wiślica-Opatowiec (7.7 km). Turn right and walk through Pisarki to the Kociny village. Before the PKS bust stop, turn left and now the trail will run at the bottom of the Balenica hill. In the distance you will see a park in Czarchowy and the first buildings. The road is crossed by a stream with sulphur water. Go past the farm yard with a source of sulphur and salt water. Walk through the village until you get to the already mentioned historic park. Here, on a high scarp of the Nida River there are remnants of a manor-house ruined by the Russian army in 1914. Round the park there are fragments of a wall and a gate which survived. In Czarchowy, it is worth going to the Nida River where there are excellent conditions to camp and fish and where flows the Maskalisa River which runs through Busko. Once you leave the Czarchowy park, go to the south. On the right you will pass the remnants of four-flat buildings. Then, walk along a wide alley and at its end turn left. In a moment, on the left you will see the high Grunwald Mound raised in 1910. A field path will lead you to a cemetery of Polish soldiers who fought in the 1st and 2nd World Wars (12.4 km). While going along the gorge, on the right you will pass a Baroque shrine from 1666 and in the distance you will see towers of the church in Stary Korczyn. When you leave the village, go past the orphanage in Winiary. Further, this trail crosses the road Kraków-Sandomierz (16.7 km) and runs among old limes and horse chestnuts which survived after the manorial park. The manor-house is situated on a high bank of the Vistula River where there is a vast view of the territories on the right side of the river. Then, walk along a convenient path which runs along the ridge of the dike to the ferry (19.5 km). Further, the green trail leads across the Nida bridge, past a post-Franciscan church to the marketplace in Nowy Korczyn and to the PKS bus stop where it ends.
(L. Cmoch, "Ponidzie - Przewodnik Turystyczny" (Sightseeing Guide-Book), AT DAL, Busko 1996, p. 48-57).
The trail begins at the PKS Pińczów bus station. Go along an alley of the reservoir and walk around it from the left side i.e. from the Pałęki street. Just behind an open cereal mill turn right and get to the narrow-gauge railway track. Keep walking along the Pałęki street until you get to the cross-roads. Now, go along Krótka street to 3-go Maja road and the Konstytucji 3-go Maja square. Pass the square on its right side, go into Źródłowa street and then turn right into Nowy Świat. On the left you will see the Wielkopolski Palace raised in 1780. Further, behind the palace walk into J. Piłsudski street. On the left you will pass buildings – the seat of special education school and once you reach the cross-roads turn right and past the last building go along a steep path up to the so-called Góra Klasztorna (Priory Hill). Here, there is St Anna chapel which was designed by Santi Gucci. Further, this trail runs right crosswise to a cemetery wall. In Grodziskowa street turn left and walk on the pavement along the cemetery towards the east. Further, pass the cross-roads with Spółdzielcza street and head straight for the fork of the roads. Behind the buildings of the Complex of Vocational Schools turn left from the main road. The trail goes up and on the left you will pass a water intake in the gorge called Siedem Źródeł (Seven Sources) and on the right you will have a view of the Grodzisko housing estate. Going up the steep climb you will get to a scarp and a road with trees on its both sides. At the top of the Pińczowski Hump walk towards the east. On the left you will pass a wilderness hut with pheasants and then you will get to a high forest. At the cross-roads turn left. First, walk along a sand path which will later change into a hard-surfaced road and lead you to a wide route which will be visible on the left. Road signs will show that you are getting to another cross-roads where you must turn right and keep going to the edge of the forest. Next, walk through fields to the Bogucice Parcele II hamlet. In front of you on the right there is a dried-up pond which yet in the ‘70s was an attraction for fishermen. When you pass the first building, turn left into a sand road. The hill on the right is a closed limestone quarry and a spreading view of farm fields on both sides creates idyllic atmosphere. Then, go up the small hill, turn left, walk across the flat area in a high, mixed forest and walk down a small slope towards the east. Next, you will get to a hard-surfaced route (the road which links Grochowiska with Bogucice) where you must turn left to the edge of the forest. Behind the turning into the left you will see oaks – natural monuments. Now, a straight part of the trail will lead you to the border of the Grochowiska village where there are two dwarfish willows and pine trees twisted by wind. Not far away, there is an impressive obelisk placed on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the battle which was fought here on 18 March 1863. This is the beginning of another tourist trail which leads to Wiślica, the roundabout described earlier. However, you must turn right and just next to the stream on the right there is a common grave of insurgents. There were about fifty similar graves, scattered all around the forests. Today, nobody precisely knows where they are. In silence and in a pensive mood you are getting to the common grave of insurgents. Then, go through the village. On the left, in some distance, you will see buildings of Kameduły. Next, you will get to the railway line Kielce – Busko-Zdrój and before the railway crossing turn right, pass the PKS Grochowiska bus stop and along the track head for the south-east. Once you cover the distance of about 1 km, cross the level crossing to the other side of the track. Next, go for around 100 m along the track and when you reach small woods with pine trees turn left. Then, walk straight ahead to the meadows and the Wełecz forest. While going to the south, you will pass a plant nursery and reach the junction with the asphalt road Busko-Zdrój – Pińczów. Turn left to the PKS Wełecz bus stop and behind it turn right. In this region you are crossing the border of two geographical units – the Pińczów Hump and the Nida Basin. Now, there will be a less interesting part of the trail running among fields, with no trees and along a nearly flat area. Go across the railway track Busko-Kielce and you will reach the end of the Oleszki village. Keep walking straight ahead towards the buildings which you will see on the horizon. There, on the fork of the roads you must turn left and then right to get to the village Biniątki. Here, first you will go past rearing ponds and then, walking all the time ahead, behind the road take the turning on your left. At the end of the village, on the right, there is a shop behind which, around 100 m, you must turn right and head for the hills. In the distance of about 150 m, you will see the reserve “Winiary Zagojskie”. On the gypsum hill which runs towards the west you will see a number of karst surface features and relics of steppe plants. However, you should go straight ahead towards a cluster of trees where you must turn left. First, keep walking along the railway track and then cross it. Later, go towards an orchard and once you get to the asphalt road, walk along the balk to the small gypsum hills which you will see in front of you. They are called Choteleckie Góry. This is the beginning of the “Skorocice” reserve. The trail runs for several hundred metres along the bottom of the ridge towards the west to a timbered source. Now, the road first goes left and then right. Walk in the reserve “Skorocice” and next pass a large pond. Going to the south, you walk across an area with mowing grasslands. Then, you will get to a high hummock, called Wielka Góra (Large Hill). On the left there is a rocky ridge. The slopes are steep and uneven with noticeable stratification of crystal gypsum. At the bottom of this wall you will see Potok Skorocicki (Skorocie Stream) which in some places meanders on the surface, but it also flows into cracks and rock ponors which are inaccessible for people. Next, the trail runs through thick bushes on both sides. About 600 m away from a domed hummock – Zielona Góra (Green Hill) there is Jaskinia Dzwonów (Cave of Bells) - a dry arm of Jaskinia Skorosicka (Skorosice Cave). Near the entrance, you will see walls overgrown with tufts of fern and grass. At the bottom of the rocks, there is a wet layer of decayed rock covered with a carpet of pellia epiphylla. When you see the cave, you can come back to the trail which leads to the insular hill called Biała Góra (White Hill). Further, behind the hill there is an endorheic valley on the left - karst basin. The trail still runs along the bottom of the gorge to the south and after about 100 m, the road begins to go up a bit. Then, you get to the main gate which is in the central part of the reserve and go up the hill. The route which runs left is called Wysoka Droga (High Road).