Iłowa – Garden Art, History and Cycling Routes
Accommodation in Iłowa
Iłowa combines garden art and history with opportunities to explore the surrounding area actively. In Park Dworski, you can see examples of Japanese, English and French garden art. There is also a palace featuring several architectural periods, historic garden themes and cycling routes that run mostly along forest paths. The town therefore offers a variety of starting points for planning your trip—from cultural interests to time spent cycling.
File:Iłowa zespół pałacowy, XVII-XX, park, nr rej. 3227 z 30.12.1986.jpg
Photo: A.POPKOW via Source, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl
Garden Art and History in Iłowa
Park Dworski is a tourist attraction in Iłowa, where you can discover examples of three garden art traditions: Japanese, English and French. The Pałac w Iłowej palace adds to this historical focus. Christoph von Schellendorf had it built in 1626. Its architecture combines elements of the Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau. Preserved details include stucco decorations and a wooden staircase with a balustrade.
The history of garden culture also goes back a long way: At a dahlia exhibition held in Iłowa in 1939, 1,000 dahlia varieties were presented. Święto Parku Dworskiego, held nearby, offers another glimpse of regional flower culture. It takes place every year in May, showcasing interesting flower varieties cultivated in the surrounding area. If you would like to plan your stay around this event, check the dates in advance.
Another historical detail awaits you at the Church of Christ the King (pw. Chrystusa Króla), which houses a 28-stop organ built by “E. Kempper & Sohn” in the 1930s. More recent event history in Iłowa includes the Park Beats Festival: its third edition in 2026 featured music, dance and entertainment.
Quests on the Palace and Local History
Two quests explore different historical themes. “W poszukiwaniu skarbów Iłowej” introduces the palace and gardens redesigned by Count Friedrich von Hochberg. The gardens grew out of his travels and his appreciation of beauty, especially flowers. “Spacer z Winklerem po Iłowej” takes you through Iłowa and highlights places associated with the work of Wilhelm Winkler and his family. As self-guided activities, the quests cater to different interests: one focuses on the palace and gardens, the other on local history and the Winkler family.
Cycling Routes and Nature in the Surrounding Area
All routes on “Rowerem wokół Iłowej” begin and end at the town hall building at ul. Żeromskiego 27 in Iłowa. Most of the routes run along forest paths. For a specific ride, the yellow cycling route is described in more detail: it is about 25 km long, rated easy and runs mostly along firm, well-maintained forest paths.
The red cycling route on the same trail passes the ruins of the Nowoszów cemetery and a shelter by Cichy Staw. The routes therefore have different highlights: the yellow route comes with details on its length, difficulty and path conditions, while the red route features named stops along the way. The Pudełek ornamental plant nursery in Iłowa also has a display garden with rhododendron and azalea collections.
Near Iłowa, the Bory Dolnośląskie offer opportunities for horseback riding, cycling, hiking and canoeing. This natural setting adds a range of outdoor activities to the town’s garden and cultural themes. More destinations: Gmina Szprotawa, Żagań.
For the wider travel overview: Żagań (Sagan).
