Colourful Carp Trail in the Barycz Valley

The Colourful Carp Trail winds through the Barycz Valley, on the border of Lower Silesia and Greater Poland – a region famous for its 800-year tradition of carp farming. The route is marked by 30 three-dimensional carp figures painted by artists from the Wrocław Academy of Fine Arts. Each carp stands by a historic site, a nature education centre, a fishery or a restaurant serving regional food.

How the trail began

The local association Partnerstwo dla Doliny Baryczy launched the "Kolorowo karpiowo" project in 2014, with PLN 90,000 from the Polish-American Freedom Foundation. The first step was an art competition, "Karp jak malowany", for local schools: children and teenagers from 32 schools sent in 1,279 works. The best of them inspired students and graduates of the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław, chosen in the "Artystyczne karpiowanie" competition, who submitted 120 designs. The artistic coordinator was Filip Górnicki, a painter from Milicz. In December 2014 the figures were painted in Milicz, with pupils from the most active schools taking part.

The figures and the route

Each figure is about 2 m long, almost 80 cm high and 30 cm wide. The carp stand in eight municipalities: Milicz, Krośnice, Żmigród, Twardogóra, Cieszków, Odolanów, Przygodzice and Sośnie. They lead, among others, to the Barycz Valley Biodiversity Centre by the reservoir in Milicz and to the former Hatzfeldt Palace and park in Żmigród, as well as to ponds, fisheries and places to eat.

A game for families

The trail works like a treasure hunt. You can pick up a paper map at points along the route or print it from the trail website, and a dedicated app shows the figures and attractions on a digital map. At each carp you collect a stamp and take a photo – once you have them all you can enter a competition with prizes of products bearing the "Dolina Baryczy Poleca" label.

Tripto tips

The figures are free to see, but the attractions next to them have their own hours and prices. The trail is spread over a large area, so pick a few points for one day and travel by car or bike. The busiest time is the annual Carp Days in Milicz – check the dates on the trail organiser's website. The trail is run by Partnerstwo dla Doliny Baryczy, based at pl. ks. E. Waresiaka 7 in Milicz.