During a press conference also attended by Bolesławiec municipality head Andrzej Dutkowski, Warta Bolesławiecka municipality head Mirosław Haniszewski and Osiecznica municipality secretary Małgorzata Słonecka, the detailed route along which the new bicycle paths will run was presented.

“Łużyce – Bory, by bicycle through the cultural and natural heritage of the borderland” is the name of a joint bicycle-route project leading from the railway station in Bolesławiec through the villages of Bolesławiec municipality (Rakowice, Otok, Kraszowice, Nowe Jaroszowice, Stare Jaroszowice, Żeliszów), then through Warta Bolesławiecka municipality (Raciborowice Górne, Raciborowice Dolne, Iwiny, Warta Bolesławiecka), again through Bolesławiec municipality (Łaziska, Kruszyn to the roundabout and from the roundabout through the housing estate to Kraśnik Dolny, Dąbrowa Bolesławiecka and Krępnica), and through Osiecznica municipality to the castle in Kliczków.

The project will be implemented by Bolesławiec municipality, which serves as the lead partner, in cooperation with Warta Bolesławiecka and Osiecznica municipalities, the City of Bolesławiec and the cross-border partner, the City of Bernsdorf.

The total value of the project is PLN 6,428,492.58, of which funding from the European Regional Development Fund under the INTERREG Poland–Saxony Cooperation Programme 2014–2020 amounts to 85% of the project value, i.e. PLN 5,464,216.47:

  • Bolesławiec municipality – total value PLN 3,137,105.02, funding PLN 2,666,538.71;
  • Warta Bolesławiecka municipality – total value PLN 1,658,623.34, funding PLN 1,409,829.13;
  • Osiecznica municipality – total value PLN 130,379.92, funding PLN 110,822.45;
  • City of Bolesławiec – total value PLN 39,999.99, funding PLN 33,999.84;
  • City of Bernsdorf – total value PLN 1,462,384.31, funding PLN 1,243,026.34.

The project aims to popularise and promote the cultural and natural assets on both sides of the border and develop active tourism. As part of the project, a marked bicycle route more than 62 km long, equipped with rest stops, will be created, including more than 12 km of safe, separated bicycle path (6.955 km to be built and more than 5 km already existing).

Part of this route—the construction section—will run along the former, disused Bolesławiec–Grodziec railway line. In addition, rest stops equipped with bench tables, rubbish bins and bicycle racks will be built along the route, as well as bilingual tourist information boards describing the attractions of the surrounding area.

The built, organised and modernised infrastructure on both sides of the border will be connected through the designated course of the “Łużyce-Bory” trail and the existing route of the “Żabia ścieżka” bicycle trail on the German side.

According to the plans, the trail on the Polish side will reach the railway station in Bolesławiec directly. From there, travellers will be able to go to Germany and get off at a station located right next to the “Żabia ścieżka” trail, which will lead them onward to the park in Bernsdorf being modernised on the German side.

In addition, a bilingual mobile application and websites will be created to popularise knowledge about the area’s natural and cultural heritage.

In addition to digital information resources, the partners also plan to produce bilingual paper tourist maps containing descriptions of the trails and the park in Bernsdorf. Promotional and community events are also planned at the start and end of the project, as well as working meetings.