Wisła Mała – EuroVelo R4 and the Church of St. James

Cycling the EuroVelo R4

The 36 km section of the EuroVelo R4 passes through Wisła Mała and is marked with green signs. This gives the area a direct connection to a signposted long-distance route, without requiring you to assume a particular stage length for your own ride. Check the local signs before setting off. This way, you can include the route in your plans and use the green markers for guidance.

Church of St. James the Greater

The Church of St. James the Greater and its bell tower, built later, date from the 18th century. Both were built in place of an earlier structure from the 15th or 16th century. The church was extended during the interwar period. Its history therefore spans an earlier predecessor, its construction in the 18th century and a later extension.

The church’s documented features also give it a distinctive art-historical character. The main altar dates from 1776; it contains an image of St. James, with an image of the Virgin Mary and Child in the upper section. The left side altar also contains an image from 1776, depicting Divine Providence. The right side altar contains an image of St. Valentine from 1804. The furnishings also include a baptismal font from 1780 and a confessional from the 18th century.

For a broader sense of the area, it is also worth noting that the church lies on the Silesian Voivodeship Wooden Architecture Route. The route and the church appeal to different interests: one for cycling plans, the other for architectural and art history.

A closer look at the wider destination of Pszczyna

In the wider destination of Pszczyna, the Historic Park offers a distinct focus. It covers 156 hectares and includes the Castle Park, Dworcowy Park and Dziką Promenada. The latter includes a well-maintained golf course. The Pokazowa Zagroda Żubrów, a showcase bison enclosure, is also located in Dziką Promenada. The site has enclosures and paths across 10 hectares; from there, you can also observe fallow deer, red deer, roe deer and pheasants.

Alongside its parkland, Pszczyna offers a distinct historical town and museum perspective to help you choose what interests you. The Old Town retains its medieval urban layout, and Piastowska Street is its main pedestrian street. Around 80 percent of the original furnishings from the turn of the 20th century have been preserved in the Castle Museum. The museum also represents the residences once inhabited by European nobility.

Museums, crafts and music in Pszczyna

Other cultural sites in Pszczyna offer a range of different highlights. The exhibition at the Silesian Press Museum traces the history of the Silesian press from its beginnings to 1939; the museum also has historic printing presses and printing equipment. The Izba Telemanna displays historic musical instruments, including an 18th-century positive organ. If you are interested in traditional architectural styles, the Zagroda Wsi Pszczyńskiej Open-Air Museum offers another connection to the Wooden Architecture Route: the museum is included in its Pszczyna loop.

The Princes’ Stables in Pszczyna are a distinct exhibition venue. The Castle Museum took over the complex in June 2013, and exhibitions on various themes are regularly held there. Music is also part of the history of the Mirror Room in the Castle Museum: since 1979, it has hosted Baroque concerts known as “Wieczory u Telemanna.” Together, these places and themes offer a range of cultural interests to explore in Pszczyna, distinct from the cycling and church themes of Wisła Mała.

Discover more destinations: Studzienice, Kobior, Piasek, Brzeźce, Suszec, Bad Gottschalkowitz, Łąka.

Back to the main travel overview: Pszczyna.