Rudy Wielkie: Cistercian abbey & landscape park, Poland
More than 700-year-old Cistercian monastery and palace complex is a former historic Romanesque-Gothic Cistercian abbey in Rudy - a village located in Racibórz County in Silesia. It was founded in 1253 by Prince Ladislaus of Opole, who brought the Cistercians from Jędrzejów to Rudy. Next to the monastery building you can find the area of outstanding natural beauty - a huge landscape park.
Parking in Rudy Wielkie
The Cysterska Street leads to the abbey. We parked in the parking lot at the road, under the branchy trees (1; GPS: 50.193333, 18.448141). There is also another, huge parking lot located a little farther (2; GPS: 50.194211, 18.447162). Generally, there is a lot of parking places in this area.
There are two cafes near the parking lot where you can enjoy a good cup of coffee, cake or ice cream. They are “Gelato & Cafe Amorino” (A; GPS: 50.193910, 18.447912) opposite the basilica, and “Laskowo Bistro Cafe” (B; GPS: 50.194501, 18.446819) near the northern outskirts of the parking lot. Not far from the latter, a waterwheel was also built and a space was set aside for a playground for children.
Abbey buildings
.The abbey buildings consist of the historic Minor Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the 14th century and the Cistercian Monastery and Palace Complex. The abbey can be visited inside as well, so perhaps someday we will make another video and make it available to advertise the place and get to know it.
After visiting the basilica, which, by the way, is really impressive, we strolled around the abbey admiring the nicely maintained buildings (we even managed to enter the courtyard, which was open at the time) until we reached the a historic “Cysters” oak tree about 450 years old and 32 meters tall with a trunk circumference of 720 cm, located behind the monastery (C; GPS: 50.194213, 18.449334). The tree is holding strong, and its trunk is indeed solid! At one time you could even buy saplings from trees grown from acorns from the “Cysters” oak. Interestingly, several oaks have also been planted along the pathway in connection with a specific event, for example, there is a “Benedict XVI Oak” to celebrate the election of Joseph Ratzinger as Pope.
The Cistercian Landscape Composition Park
.In addition to the abbey itself, a beautiful scenic park located in a picturesque area through which the Ruda River flows is available for visitors. We took a walk along the path leading between Ruda Pond and Ruda River, and then via a bridge (D; GPS: 50.197275, 18.447940) went to its other side. We reached a fork in the road, at which there is the so-called “Glass Chapel” from 1939 (E; GPS: 50.197989, 18.450461). Then we turned right and after about 100 meters we reached the place where a monument dedicated to the Napoleonic Wars once stood (F; GPS: 50.1980697, 18.4518947). Nowadays, unfortunately, only a few larger stones remain of it, and you have to look around more carefully to see them. It's a shame, because it could be one of the attractions of the place.
.We returned along the same road, but this time we went around the pond from the other side walking along Klodwig Avenue until we reached the main road (G; GPS: 50.1951681, 18.4465625). The place is a haven for birds and other wildlife - we saw woodpeckers, squirrels and nuthatches, among others, and we could hear frogs croaking in the pond. The paths on which we hike are in good condition. Some problems arise only when the weather has been rainy for a long time beforehand. Then some places have to be bypassed, as there are puddles or mud on the paths.
The narrow-gauge railroad in Rudy
.As part of the Route of Industrial Monuments, you can also get acquainted with the narrow-gauge railway (H; GPS: 50.190094, 18.464090), which has existed here since 1899. Familiarization is very practical, as we can simply take a ride on such a railroad. It is a great attraction. The narrow-gauge railroad station, located at 1 Szkolna Street, is open from Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays). Ticket prices range from PLN 11 (discounted) to PLN 16 (regular) and PLN 46 (family). More details on its website.
.See also: