Recommended weekend break

Beginning our weekend trip, we leave Rzeszów and head for Dynów, taking the 878 road. After we go past Tyczyn and Hyżne, right before Dynów we get to the crossroads with the 884 road connecting Domaradz and Przemyśl. We suggest taking a break for a meal in “Pod Semaforem” inn (Bachórz 16). The restaurant offers not only excellent food and drinks, its attraction is also the nearby narrow-gauge rail connecting Przeworsk and Dynów. The pearl of the Renaissance After the meal and rest we take the 884 road towards Dubiecko (home town of bishop and poet Ignacy Krasicki) and further towards Krasiczyn. Here we visit a beautiful, Renaissance castle. Its origin dates back to 1525, when the owner of the village, called Śliwnica at that time, Jakub of Siecin began the construction of the fortified building. The name “Krasicki” was adopted by the descendants of Jakub (probably by son Stanisław) after the nearby village Krasice. The castle and village were then named after the owner of Krasiczyn. At the end of the 16th century Stanisław embarked on the extension of the fortified building. The castle was given a form of castle complex built on the plan of a quadrangle, surrounded by defensive wall with four corner towers. The consecutive owner Marcin Krasicki extended and transformed the austere castle into a fortified residence. That was when the Papal Tower was built in the north-west corner. That was probably where the guest rooms for high-ranking clergymen, among others the papal nuncio Cosmosa de Torres, were located. It is believed that it was in the chapel of the Papal Tower where he passed a sword consecrated by the Pope down to Jan III Sobieski as an attempt to induce him to take part in the war with the Turks. In 1726 Krasiczyn was invaded by the Russians and the castle suffered serious damage. The furnishings of the chambers were robbed, the castle chapel was devastated and the Papal Tower was destroyed. In the 30’s of the 19th century Krasiczyn was bought by the Sapieha family. Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha was born here. The Sapieha family started the custom of planting trees after the birth of each child in the castle park: oaks for sons and lime trees for daughters. These trees still grow in the park. At the beginning of the Second World War the castle was robbed by the Soviet soldiers, after the attack of Soviet Russia on Poland. Presently, the castle, now belonging to the Industrial Development Agency, is under renovation, which began in the 70’s of the 20th century. Visiting the castle is possible only with the guide every day of the week apart from Mondays, from 9.00a.m. to 4.00p.m. The Krasiczyn castle is also a hotel so you can find accommodation here after visiting the building. Take a deep breath …. as the smell is unearthly The next day morning we take the 28 road towards Przemyśl, and further to Bolestraszyce, with the arboretum whose fame is not limited to Poland. You can get there from Przemyśl heading towards Wyszatyce. It is not difficult, all you have to do is look for information boards with the name “Arboretum” and a stylized tree sign. The arboretum founded in 1975 is located on the area of 25ha (together with the arboretum in Cisowa 308ha) and possesses over 3,5 thousand plant specimen, often those endangered or becoming extinct. The historical layout comprises park and manor-house, where the magnificent painter Piotr Michałowski lived and painted and also the 19th century fort of the Przemyśl Fortress. Aged trees - a remainder of the old castle gardens - are a very picturesque feature among new plantings, consisting of the species of foreign origin, as well as of the native specimens of trees, shrubs, and other rare and protected plant species. Among the plants growing here there are over 1000 yews, 160 varieties of magnolia, 200 dawn redwoods, over 100 maidenhair trees. The plants blossom at different times of year, so the visitors can always be sure that they will be able to delight in the blaze of colours and smells from the whole world. Another place worth visiting is the Museum of Natural History housing the ornithological exhibition “Protect birds” and a photographic exhibition of J. Piórecki “25 years of Bolestraszyce Arboretum”. After visiting the Bolestraszyce garden we move towards Przemyśl – one of the oldest and the most beautiful cities in Poland. Przemyśl boasts such number of historical monuments and attractions that one weekend is definitely too short to see them all. For that reason we recommend visiting he unique, sloping Market Square, surrounded on three sides (the buildings of the fourth did not withstand the passage of time) by row houses of the 16th and 17th centuries. Most houses, reconstructed in the 19th century preserved the original arcades. You can relax here over something to eat or drink, e.g. have coffee in one of the numerous cafes. Centrally in the market there is a fountain with a bear – the symbol of Przemyśl. The more enduring are recommended to visit the archsees: the Roman, the Greek-Catholic and the castle. The Roman Catholic archsee is set near the market, in Zamkowa street. It was built at the turn of the 16th century in Gothic style, in place of an even older Romanesque temple, whose relics are preserved in the basement. Near the archsee there is a Bishop’s Palace and late Baroque 71 meters high belfry – one of the most characteristic elements of the Przemyśl panorama. Further down Zamkowa street we will get to the castle, raised after 1340 during the reign of Kazimierz the Great. The relics of rotunda and palatium – buildings dating back to Bolesław Chrobry times - are exposed in the courtyard. Currently the castle houses, among others, the theatre room of the Dramatic Society named after Aleksander Fredro – the oldest amateur theatre in Poland. The second archsee – Greek-Catholic – is situated in the old Baroque Chuch of Holliest Heart of Jesus, raised for the Jesuits in the 17th century. Inside the temple the visitors can see historical 17th century iconostas from the Lubaczów Orthodox church. Unfortunately there will not be enough time to see all historical monuments of Przemyśl as there are so many and they are too beautiful to visit them quickly and carelessly. For this reason such historical ‘pearls’ as: the Museum of Przemyśl History, John the Baptist Cathedral, Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Church, churches: Franciscan, Carmelite, bare-feet Carmelite, Benedict, synagogues, Clock Tower housing the Museum of Bells and Pipes and the forts forming the Przemyśl Tower complex shall be the aim of our next visit to the city set in the San river. At the end of the weekend trip we suggest walking down Basztowa street to see the remains of city walls of the 16th and 17th centuries. The other – including 9 towers and 3 gates to the city were pulled down by the Austrians in the 18th century. The tourists who would like to leave Przemyśl on a train, will have the opportunity to see the railway station building raised in 1859-60 of interesting architecture. This is one of the most magnificent buildings of the railway connecting Kraków and Lwów. Those who chose to go by car, over the San bridge and further down 3-go Maja street (road number 4) should go towards Rzeszów. We hope that the trip to Krasiczyn, Bolestraszyce and Przemyśl will be successful and memorable.

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