VeloSkawa (Podolsze - Olczany)

The newly opened section of VeloSkawa connecting Podolsze with Łączany is a fresh addition to the cycling map of western Lesser Poland. The route runs mostly along the flood embankments of the Skawa and Vistula rivers and the Spytkowicki stream, with some fragments crossing the floodplain, which means you ride away from car traffic through the calm, open landscape of the Lower Skawa Valley. The route crosses three municipalities: Zator, Spytkowice and Brzeźnica, linking the Oświęcim and Wadowice counties.

This is primarily a recreational route, perfect as a weekend getaway for families with children, seniors, and anyone new to cycling tourism. In Łączany, the route connects with the Vistula Cycle Route, opening up a comfortable ride further towards Skawina and Kraków.

Essential route information

• Difficulty: easy, suitable for children, seniors, and less experienced cyclists
• Profile: flat, with no significant climbs, thanks to its routing along flood embankments
• Surface: fully paved
• Route character: mostly a dedicated cycle path separated from car traffic; short sections at the beginning and end run on public roads with low traffic volume
• Recommended direction: either direction works equally well
• Recommended bike: any city, trekking, gravel or family bike; the paved surface requires no specialist equipment

Waymarking and navigation

The section has been designed and built to VeloMałopolska network standards, which means consistent, clearly visible signage as a tourist route. The route runs largely along the embankments, which makes navigation in the field considerably easier.

Best direction and season

Which direction to choose comes down mainly to travel logistics. Riding from Zator and Podolsze towards Łączany, you reach a direct connection with the Vistula Cycle Route at the end and can push on towards Kraków. Riding the other way, from Łączany to Podolsze, it is easier to incorporate the route into a trip across western Lesser Poland, for example around Zator and the Carp Valley.

The route is accessible throughout most of the year, but the most pleasant conditions occur:

• from spring, when the cycling season starts and the embankments turn green
• in midsummer, when the surrounding ponds come alive with birdlife
• in early autumn, when temperatures are mild and the landscape takes on golden hues

The open terrain of the embankments means full sun exposure and little shelter from the wind, so in summer it is worth bringing water and a hat.

Trip variants

The new section works well in several configurations, depending on how much time you have and how you want to return.

• By train (linear ride): travel by train to Zator, enter VeloSkawa from the town and ride to Łączany, from where you can continue towards Skawina and Kraków
• Family out-and-back: a quiet ride in both directions over flat terrain, the simplest logistical solution
• By car: park in one of the villages along the route and set off from there by bike

Key attractions along the route

The section runs through an area with exceptional natural and cultural value. These are the surroundings of the Lower Skawa Valley, protected under the Natura 2000 programme, and the Carp Valley, a region renowned for its centuries-old tradition of fish farming.

• Lower Skawa Valley (Natura 2000): a haven for birdwatchers, home to numerous water bird species inhabiting the local ponds and floodplains
• Carp Valley: a historic region known for hundreds of fish ponds established as early as the Middle Ages, where the famous Zator carp, protected by the EU's Protected Designation of Origin, is still produced today
• Zator: known as the Capital of the Carp Valley, with a castle and the status of the most recognisable town in the region
• Cycling footbridge over the Spytkowicki stream: a striking piece of infrastructure built as part of the investment, marking the end of the section
• Łączany weir: where the route joins the Vistula Cycle Route and enters the Vistula valley

In the immediate vicinity of the route, in Zator, you will also find the Energylandia amusement park, the region's most recognisable tourist attraction.

Accommodation options

Lodging in the area along the route is based primarily on local properties in Zator, Spytkowice and Brzeźnica, as well as in neighbouring villages. The region is developing as a tourist destination mainly thanks to the Carp Valley and nearby attractions such as Energylandia, which has spurred a growing range of places to stay.

• Guesthouses and agritourism accommodation in the surrounding villages, often run by fish farms
• Hotels and tourist facilities in Zator, geared towards families visiting the amusement parks

Access and transportation

Getting there

The most convenient option for those from outside the region is to travel by train to Zator, from where you can reach the start of the route in Podolsze by bike. Zator station is served by Koleje Małopolskie trains on the line running from Kraków Główny through Skawina, which provides handy connections for residents of the Kraków metropolitan area.

Getting back

From Łączany, where the route joins the Vistula Cycle Route and the trail along the Łączany Canal, you can continue riding towards Skawina and Kraków. The simplest logistical option is to return the same way to the starting point, which makes for a pleasant loop over flat terrain.

Practical considerations

The route is comfortable and safe, but there are a few aspects worth keeping in mind, typical of riding along flood embankments. Running along the crest of the embankments means open terrain, with little shade and limited shelter from the wind, which can be tiring on hot days. Service points and shops are located mainly in the towns the route passes through or which lie nearby, so it is worth planning your supplies of water and snacks before setting off.

• Short sections at the beginning and end run on public roads with low traffic, where standard road awareness is needed
• The route is well suited for bikes with trailers and people using handcycles, thanks to its flat profile and even surface
• During the holiday season the route can be busy, especially on weekends, so be mindful of other path users

Final tips

The Podolsze–Łączany section is a friendly, well-designed route that combines the scenic qualities of the Lower Skawa Valley with the comfort and safety typical of the VeloMałopolska network. It works great as a quiet weekend getaway, a short family trip or a fragment of a longer journey linking western Lesser Poland with Kraków.

It is also a preview of something bigger: ultimately, VeloSkawa is planned to run from Sucha Beskidzka all the way to the Vistula Cycle Route. The plans include sections such as Wadowice–Podolsze and a spectacular stretch around Mucharskie Lake. Already today, using the connection at Łączany, you can naturally continue your ride along the Vistula Cycle Route towards Kraków or along the trails along the Łączany Canal, which makes the new section an attractive starting point for further cycling discoveries in the region.