Byszyce: Churches, Wayside Crosses and a PTTK Route

Byszyce combines local church and wayside cross history with an excursion route listed by the PTTK. Anyone planning a stay can take two different interests into account: religious memorials in the village and a route that starts in Byszyce and leads through several named places to Wieliczka.

Churches and wayside crosses in Byszyce

A Marian image stands at the altar in the church in Byszyce. On October 4, 1958, Bishop Karol Wojtyła prayed before the Marian image in the church. The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Byszyce was consecrated by Archbishop Jędraszewski on October 7, 2017. These are distinct points of church history: the Marian image and the scene of prayer, as well as the consecration date of the specifically named church.

The wayside crosses also have their own dates. The first, unnamed wayside cross in Byszyce was erected around 1886. The present-day oak wayside cross was erected on September 14, 2022. The date for the first cross is approximate, while the erection date of the present-day oak cross is precisely specified. Together, these two details provide a timeline for the village’s wayside cross history, without implying that they are the same cross.

A route with Wieliczka as its destination

An excursion route listed by the PTTK starts in Byszyce and leads through Koźmice Wielkie, Janowice and Wolica to Wieliczka. The sequence makes the route through several named places clear: Byszyce is the starting point, and Wieliczka is the destination. If you are considering this route for your plans, check the current route and trail conditions before setting out.

Wieliczka: a distinct regional highlight

The wider destination of Wieliczka offers a different cultural highlight: the Salt Mine. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines.” The underground Miners’ Route includes 7 to 14 mining chambers in the rough workings around the oldest preserved Regis Shaft and is up to two kilometers long. This makes it possible to distinguish the church memorials and wayside crosses in Byszyce thematically from Wieliczka’s mining history.

The routes in the wider destination of Wieliczka are also laid out in different ways. The yellow route is a hiking and cycling route between Wieliczka and Dobczyce. The red cycling route forms a 27-kilometer loop through Wieliczka and Siercza. By comparison, the PTTK excursion route leads from Byszyce through a sequence of named places to Wieliczka; the red route is explicitly described as a loop. Check the current route and trail conditions before setting out.

A time-sensitive visitor notice applies to Zamek Żupny and its courtyard: as of September 8, 2026, both were closed for renovation work, which was expected to continue until the end of 2028. Check their visitor status again before planning your visit.

Discover more destinations: Wieliczka, Brzegi, Koźmice Wielkie, Zakrzów, Kłaj, Jawczyce, Niepołomice, Biskupice

Go to the wider travel overview: Wieliczka.