Lachowice brings together two distinct travel themes: a marked hiking route and a history of architecture and crafts. The blue trail starts at PKP Lachowice Centrum railway station and leads via Solniska and Cicha Pass to Jałowiec. The village is home to the Church of St Peter and Paul, a historic bell tower and several houses dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries; a chapel and the making of wooden toys also form part of its cultural heritage. If you are looking for accommodation in Lachowice, you can choose the focus of your stay: hiking, architectural history or a combination of the two.
The valley and mountain ranges in context
Lachowice lies in the Lachówka Valley, between the Solisko side ridge, which belongs to the Jałowiec mountain range, and the eastern edge of the Pewelskie range. The village also lies at the northern foot of 849-metre-high Solnisko. The similar-sounding names refer to different landmarks here: Solisko is the side ridge, while Solnisko is the mountain. The Lachówka is another important point of reference: the river flows through Lachowice, joins the Stryszawka and forms a tributary of the Skawa.
Hiking trail and getting there
The blue-marked hiking trail starts at PKP Lachowice Centrum railway station and leads via Solniska and Cicha Pass to Jałowiec. This makes for a clear sequence of a starting point, two named waypoints and a destination. Check current trail conditions before setting out. The Sucha Beskidzka–Żywiec railway line also runs through Lachowice. If you are planning to travel by train, it is worth checking the current timetable.
The road connection also helps put the village in context: a national road runs through Lachowice, connecting Bielsko-Biała and Kraków with the border crossing at Korbielów. The railway line, road and hiking trail offer different points of reference for planning. Which of these matters most for your stay depends on whether you want to focus on the hike to Jałowiec, the journey there or the historic buildings.
Church, buildings and crafts
The Church of St Peter and Paul was built between 1789 and 1792, replacing a cemetery chapel that had been built in 1707. Its vault is painted blue and decorated with gold stars; the church also features illusionistic Baroque polychrome decoration. A historic bell tower stands beside it. Groups of trees around the church are designated natural monuments.
Other historic buildings in Lachowice include the Chapel of Christ Beneath the Cross at Kapałowy Potok. Several houses in the village date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These landmarks complement the church’s history with different architectural forms and periods. Visitors interested in architecture can explore not only the church itself but also other historic buildings and the area around it.
The local craft tradition reveals another side of the village’s culture. Lachowice is known for handicrafts and making wooden toys. Examples include little horses, carriages and spinning carousels. These specific examples give the crafts their own distinct character alongside the historic buildings: one is about handmade objects and traditional local work, the other about church architecture and older houses. Together, these themes provide a useful guide to choosing the focus of your trip.
Discover more destinations: Zachełmna, Bienkówka, Hucisko, Jordanów, Białka, Lachy, Sucha Beskidzka, Grzechynia.
For the broader travel overview: Sucha.
