Gdów offers several distinct options for a stay: the Pope’s Route to Niegowić, a leisure cycling route in a loop, the regional produce market “Mój Rynek,” and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Gdów. The routes differ in their course and length; the market and church add a specific food offering and sacred architectural and art history to the selection. You can first decide whether you would rather focus on a route, a loop, or the cultural and market destinations.

The Pope’s Route and the Loop Route

The approximately 6 km Pope’s Route leads from Gdów to Niegowić and starts at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Gdów. The route follows the path that Vicar Karol Wojtyła took to his first parish in July 1948. This brings together a clearly defined route between two places and a specific biographical connection. If you would like to consider a route’s history as well as its distance, this connection is a defining feature of the Pope’s Route.

The approximately 10 km walking and cycling route is a leisure cycling route that forms a loop from Gdów Zarabie II via Podolany, Klęczana and Marszowice, returning to Gdów Zarabie II. The start and finish are therefore in Gdów Zarabie II; the three other places mark the route in between. Unlike the Pope’s Route, which leads to Niegowić, this route returns to its starting point. If you prefer to plan a loop, you can take this difference into account when choosing.

Both the approximate distance and the route’s format matter for comparison: approximately 6 km ending in Niegowić versus approximately 10 km as a loop. This makes it easy to decide first whether you prefer a route connecting two places or one that returns to its starting point. The two routes thus offer different approaches to planning.

Market offering in Gdów Zarabie

The regional produce market “Mój Rynek” is located in Gdów Zarabie. Products on offer include farmhouse bread, pierogi, baked goods and preserves. The selection covers a range of food groups and offers a different focus from the routes: here, the market and its products take center stage. For travelers who would like to consider a specific market offering in addition to routes, Mój Rynek provides a separate point of interest.

If you plan to visit, check the market’s current operating details in advance.

Sanctuary and Church Art

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Gdów adds a focus on sacred architecture and art to the routes and market. The oldest surviving parts of the church date from the early 15th century. The sanctuary includes Rococo altars from the workshop of local master Piotr Kornecki. This brings together older surviving fabric and a specific attribution for the artistic craftsmanship.

For those interested in culture, architectural history and craftsmanship come together here: the oldest surviving parts date back to the early 15th century, while the altars stand out for their Rococo style and workshop attribution. The name Piotr Kornecki specifies the altars’ provenance; describing him as a local master also connects them to the destination.

Plan your stay

If you are planning an overnight stay in Gdów, first decide whether the historical connection of the Pope’s Route, the loop, or the market and sanctuary should shape your stay. You can then look for hotels in Gdów in relation to the destinations that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Kokotów, Brzegi, Sułków, Mała Wieś, Wieliczka, Czarnochowice, Byszyce, Węgrzce Wielkie.

Go to the main travel overview: Wieliczka.