Forest trails, parkland and architectural history give a stay in Sorau a variety of possible themes. In the municipality of Żary, which includes Sorau, the “Dolina Szyszyny,” Zielony Las and historic buildings in several localities are among the topics to consider when planning a trip. If you are looking for a hotel in Sorau, you can first decide whether you would like to spend most of your time outdoors, exploring architecture, or doing both.
Hiking in the Dolina Szyszyny
A walk along the “Dolina Szyszyny” trail takes about two hours and covers 2.3 kilometres. The nature and forest educational trail of the same name runs along a river characterized by deep gorges. This makes it possible to include both a manageable trail length and a distinctive landscape feature in your daily plans.
The Dolina Szyszyny area is also home to the ruins of a historic mill, a dam dating from 1932 and a medieval hillfort listed in the register of monuments. Natural and cultural heritage sit alongside one another here as different aspects of the same area; the trail length and historic structures each offer a separate point of reference for planning.
Trails and Parkland
Zielony Las in the municipality of Żary is characterized by lush vegetation, varied terrain and three observation towers. Two tourist trails, a Euroregional cycle route and the “Zielony Las” nature and forest educational trail run through the area. Hiking, cycling and nature observation offer different ways to spend time in the forest, without having to combine them into a single route.
Włostów offers a different kind of parkland: the park covers 10.5 hectares and has a water system of four ponds and canals. Among the surviving trees are a sycamore maple with three-lobed leaves, a pedunculate oak with unusually lobed leaves and a lime tree formed from two trees that have grown together. The park’s history also contributes to its character: E. Petzold designed it in 1864 on behalf of the Tülff family, who owned the estate at the time. The size of the grounds, the water system and the distinctive trees offer different perspectives on the park.
Churches, Palaces and Local History
The municipality’s historic buildings differ in location, period and form. Mirostowice Dolne is home to a Gothic church dating from the 13th century; Mirostowice Górne has a Gothic church with a gate and stone wall dating from the 16th century. In Sieniawa Żarska, a Gothic church dating from the 14th century and a rectory from 1737 are part of the architectural heritage. Miłowice adds to the picture with a Gothic church dating from the 14th century and an eclectic palace built in 1916. The different dates and types of buildings make it possible to compare the histories of these localities.
The palace in Włostów also represents several phases of construction. Its origins are dated to the end of the 15th or the beginning of the 16th century. The building, originally designed for defence, underwent extensive remodelling in the Neoclassical style in 1803; today it is a ruin. The ruins of the Gothic church in Złotnik retain richly ornamented entrance doors, a Gothic two-bay rib vault, traces of polychrome decoration and face-shaped vault corbels. These different building histories offer a distinct focus alongside the trails and parks.
Cultural History in Bieniów and Złotnik
The Izba Dziedzictwa Kulturowego in Bieniów was founded in 2009. Its exhibits relate to the history of the villagers who settled there after the Second World War. In Złotnik, the village head’s house was opened to visitors for the first time in 2018 as part of the European Heritage Days. On that occasion, the interiors featured a collection of historic architectural ceramics and an exhibition of historic photographs by the Society for the Preservation of the Past. Looking at both places therefore takes you from the history of the residents to architectural ceramics and photography.
Within the Wider Travel Destination of Żarski County
Muskau Park is a landscape park dating from the first half of the 19th century and an outstanding example of European garden art from that period. It extends across Łęknica in Poland and Bad Muskau in Germany; the Double Bridge and the English Bridge connect the two parts. The Łuk Mużakowa Geopark offers another landscape perspective and has been part of European geopark networks with UNESCO support since 2011. The Polish part is protected by law as a landscape park.
Discover more destinations: Chlebice, Dluzek, Żary, Lubsko, Brzostowa, Dobrzyń, Łęknica, Sieniawa Żarska, Lipinki Łużyckie, Czaple.
Back to the regional travel overview: Lubusz.
