Short characteristics

This one is a cult loop around Wroclaw with a length of 182 km. The route is very interesting and some of its sections are simply excellent. Originally designated as a multi-stage hiking trail, now it is also recommended for cyclists. The loop has two themes: ‘close to nature’ and ‘interesting places’. There are a lot of narrow paths, sometimes potholed, sometimes overgrown. If you expect only smooth wide roads, we do not recommend it. Cycling on this route sometimes requires a certain degree of determination. Despite this, or even because of this, it is a must for the inhabitants of Wroclaw. Not knowing it is simply unacceptable. You will discover an unknown face of the vicinity of Wroclaw. To adapt the project to the needs of cyclists, we divided it into 4 almost equal sections. Divisions into 3 and 5 parts are also good (these can be found at the end of the text). In each option, you start from a railway station near Wroclaw and finish at another. Interestingly, in each of these divisions there is a station in Lesnica. So, we will start there and go clockwise.

Section 1: Lesnica – Brzeg Dolny (44 km)

It is really surprising. You wander through successive small forests and field stretches. However, there also are some tourist attractions. The castle and park in Lesnica, Vineyard Jaworek in Miekinia (DOT44), Castle in Wojnowice (DOT44), Palaces in Prezyce, Gasiorow and Brzeg Dolny are the most important of them. In addition, in virtually every town, there are interesting parish churches. We suggest making a modification on the Lenartowice – Prezyce section in order to ride by the charming oxbow lakes. The first part of the section is dominated by dirt roads, sometimes a bit sandy, in the second part there are more small-traffic asphalt roads. Due to the reconstruction of Wroclaw Ring Road near Miekinia, it is necessary to make up a few hundred meters.

Section 2: Brzeg Dolny – Dlugoleka (48 km)

You start the ride with an absolute classic stretch led as close to the Odra river as possible. You will have to push the bike over the railway embankment and ride on the top of the embankments. Long trousers are recommended as the area may not be mowed. From Kotowice on, you ride on asphalt roads. Among the attractions along the way, it is worth mentioning the bathing beach and recreational areas in Waly and in Paniowice and the port town of Uraz. The middle of the section is a ride along the Widawa River partly on new perfectly made gravel roads. The most spectacular is the finish: to warm up you ride along the ponds before Domaszczyn, then there is the brilliant stretch along the Dobra river to Szczodry pond with the Hunting House nearby and you end up in the Sybilla park and palace.

Section 3: Dlugoleka – Siechnice (44 km)

In our opinion, it is the best section of the entire loop. Its main advantage is being close to the nature. Even though you are near a big city, it feels like a secluded area. The route is mainly led on dirt roads. At the beginning you pass ponds in Borowa and Rakow. There is a short and a bit challenging forest stretch. Then you ride in Gredzin Forests (Natura 2000) where you can come across some impressive puddles after rainfall. You cross the Odra river line through the weir and sluice in Ratowice. Attention! Access is possible only during specific hours: November 1 to March 31, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. From April 1 to October 31, between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Outside the designated times, the gates leading to the Ratowice Water Stage remain closed. The passage through this area is open only to pedestrian traffic, with bicycles prohibited, however, bicycles are permitted through the facility.
During the renovation of the closed bridge on Młynówka Jelecka. At the end there is the crème de la crème: the vicinity of Kotowice, especially the Dziewicze (Virgin) Lake. As in the Gredzin Forest, be careful with choosing this route after prolonged rains as the stretch along the tracks can be very wet.

Section 4: Siechnice – Lesnica (46 km)

It is a calm closure of the loop – which seems to be this section’s best summary. At the beginning you cycle uphill to Biskupice Podgorne. You ride in an open area, on small-traffic asphalt with only two short dirt stretches. The crossing the A4 motorway with our DK348 road is the least pleasant part. Then you mostly cycle among the fields. There are a few tourist attractions along the way: the Biestrzykow defensive tower, Topacz Castle (it is worth giving it at least an hour), you also pass the Alexandrow Palace in Samotwor (unfortunately, the building has been closed for some time).

The division of the loop into 3 sections:
1/3 Lesnica – Szewce (65 km)
2/3 Szewce – Czernica (56 km)
3/3 Czernica – Lesnica (62 km)

The division of the loop into 5 sections:
1/5 Lesnica – Ksieginice (35 km)
2/5 Ksieginice – Swiniary (33 km)
3/5 Szewce – Borowa (32 km + 1,5km of access road)
4/5 Borowa – Smardzow (42 km + 1,5km of access road)
5/5 Smardzow – Lesnica (40 km)