Zabierzów: Local History, Quarry and Routes

Church, memorial and a villa with local connections

The Neo-Gothic Parish Church of St. Francis of Assisi stands on Krakowska Street in the area of Zabierzów’s former village green. Its location provides a specific point of reference for the former village green. The obelisk in Zabierzów also links a named place to an important historical date: it was unveiled in 1993, on the 50th anniversary of the Gestapo’s arrest of the Pogan family and other residents on 3 July 1943. The obelisk stands behind the Rudawa River, opposite a former mill dating from 1930.

Another address for architecture enthusiasts is the timber-and-stone villa at 149 Krakowska Street. It was built in 1901 to a design by the architect Jan Sas-Zubrzycki, who lived in Zabierzów. Its construction date, design and his place of residence connect the villa with local history, without reducing the history of the place to a single building.

From quarry to pond

The Zabierzów quarry tells the story of how the landscape changed through its former use. Limestone was extracted there for chalk production from 1922 until the quarry closed in 1992. The disused quarry was later flooded, creating a pond. A nature trail runs through the quarry grounds, giving the area a connection to the landscape that emerged from this development.

For planning purposes, it is helpful to distinguish between the paths around the quarry and those through the grounds: the nature trail runs through the quarry grounds, while a cycling route passes nearby. The blue walking trail from Zabierzów to Mników also passes near the quarry. Swimming in the pond is not permitted for hygiene reasons; check this restriction locally before your visit.

Walking and cycling routes with named destinations

One listed walking route by the Kraków branch of PTTK runs from Zabierzów railway station via the quarry, Las Zabierzowski, Wąwóz Zbrza Gorge, Kleszczów, Brzoskwinia, Chrosna and Wąwóz Półrzeczki Gorge to the car park in Dolina Mnikowska and the Mników MPK stop. The route lists the quarry as 1.3 km from Zabierzów railway station. The sequence of named places therefore runs from the station via the quarry and forest to gorges and the designated endpoints.

Places and destinations are also named for cycling plans: one listed cycling route runs from Zabierzów railway station via Bolechowice, Karniowice, Kawiory and Bębło Kolonia Zachodnia to Dolina Będkowska. A blue cycling route to Jerzmanowice Kolonia Zachodnia is listed after that. The walking and cycling routes therefore differ in their named stops and destinations. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Zabierzów, these differences can help you decide what to focus on: the church, obelisk and villa represent local history, while the routes lead to different named landscapes and intermediate destinations.

Discover more destinations: Zielonki, Zalas, Sieciechowice, Ochojno, Krasieniec Zakupny, Czernichów, Ojców, Bolechowice

For the broader travel overview: Kraków.