Uszew offers three distinct ways to spend your time: the history of remembrance in Las Grabaliny forest, a little-used trail with views of the Uszwica Valley, and St. Florian’s Church, which combines Baroque and Classicist styles. This makes it easy to explore the area according to your interests. If you are looking for history, you will encounter names and individual stories; for a focus on the landscape, a trail leads to fields with views of the valley, while the church provides an architectural highlight.

The history of remembrance in Las Grabaliny

A marble plaque in Las Grabaliny forest was erected in 2003 by the Jewish Community of Kraków and residents of the village. The forest is also associated with a story of aid: residents of Uszew supported the family of Chaskel Goldberger and Pinkas Federgrin during their stay in a bunker. The farmer Wojciech Kotfis is singled out in particular. The story brings together those who were persecuted and those who helped them in Uszew, with Kotfis receiving particular mention.

In August 1944, Toni Goldberger, her three minor daughters, and Pinkas Federgrin were shot after their hiding place was discovered. Kotfis was killed for helping Jews; his family secretly buried him in the parish cemetery at night. The dates refer to different parts of the story: 1944 dates the shootings, while 2003 marks the erection of the plaque. This distinction helps place the remembrance and historical events in their proper time frames. If you are interested in local history, you will encounter individual names and stories here rather than an isolated date.

A trail with views of the Uszwica Valley

The landscape highlight is a little-used trail near Uszew. Close to the cemetery, it leads to fields on a hill, from where the Uszwica Valley is visible. The trail then continues in the direction of Księży Las. The view of the valley is from the fields on the hill, while Księży Las marks the direction in which the trail continues. You can therefore treat the trail as a landscape highlight in its own right: it connects the elevated fields with a specific view into the valley and a onward route.

Baroque and Classicism at St. Florian’s

At St. Florian’s Church in Uszew, the focus is on the combination of Baroque and Classicist styles. The two terms refer to different styles; mentioning them together makes the church a distinct architectural topic rather than assigning it to just one style. If you choose a sight for its architecture, this combination is the key feature to note. In substance, it differs from the names and events in Las Grabaliny as well as from the valley views along the trail. St. Florian’s thus offers another clearly defined perspective on Uszew.

Choose Uszew according to your interests

This is not a ranking, but a choice about the character of your trip. If local history is a priority, Las Grabaliny offers the most detailed narrative. For a connection with the landscape, the fields on the hill are a specific point of interest; if you are interested in architecture, the combination of styles at St. Florian’s is the key feature.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Czchów, Iwkowa, Mokrzyska, Biesiadki, Połom Mały, Szczepanów, Brzesko, Łysa Góra

For the main travel overview: Brzesko.