Discover Gdów: the Pope’s Trail, market and sanctuary

Gdów offers a range of reasons to visit: a trail with historical significance, a recreational cycling route, a regional produce market and a sanctuary featuring art from different periods. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you are most interested in a particular route, regional food or the history and furnishings of the church. The routes differ in length and layout and can be considered as separate options.

A historic trail and a circular route

The approximately 6 km Pope’s Trail runs from Gdów to Niegowić. It follows the route taken by curate Karol Wojtyła on his way to his first parish in July 1948. The starting point is the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Gdów. The route thus connects a specific starting point with an event from Wojtyła’s early years as a curate. If you are interested in this historical connection, the trail offers clear guidance: it runs from Gdów to Niegowić and is approximately 6 km long. No walking time or difficulty level can be inferred from this distance; therefore, use it as a measure of distance when making your plans.

Another option is the approximately 10 km walking and cycling route, described as a recreational cycling route. It is a circular route from Gdów Zarabie II via Podolany, Klęczana and Marszowice, returning to Gdów Zarabie II. Unlike the Pope’s Trail, it forms a loop and returns to the starting point. The stated distance and the named places help distinguish this route from the trail to Niegowić. If you are considering a recreational cycling route for your stay, this circular route is the one that fits among the two trail options described here.

Regional produce and religious art

The “Mój Rynek” regional produce market in Gdów Zarabie offers, among other things, farmhouse bread, pierogi, baked goods and preserves. The selection therefore includes bread and pastries, as well as savoury dishes and preserved products. Those interested in Polish food and regional produce will find a dedicated point of interest here, alongside the routes. These examples give a concrete idea of the types of products available at the market.

The church of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Gdów is also a cultural highlight of the town. The oldest surviving parts of the church date from the early 15th century. This date refers to the oldest parts that have been preserved. The sanctuary also contains Rococo altars from the workshop of local master Piotr Kornecki. The early origins of the surviving structures and the Rococo altars point to different historical layers. If you are interested in church art, the combination of older structural elements and altars from a local workshop is a specific reason to consider including the sanctuary in your travel plans.

When looking for a hotel, holiday apartment or holiday home for a trip to Gdów, you can first decide what you would most like to focus on: the historic trail to Niegowić, the approximately 10 km circular route, the regional produce market or the sanctuary. This choice depends on the experiences that interest you; the two routes differ considerably in both layout and length. This makes it possible to incorporate Gdów into your trip to Poland based on specific places and themes.

More places

More places: Brzegi, Suchoraba, Czyżów, Węgrzce Wielkie, Biskupice, Łysokanie, Jawczyce, Podstolice.

For the broader travel overview: Wieliczka.