Sandomierz Apple Trail

Loess gorges, the Vistula and endless orchards: the Sandomierz Apple Trail turns this landscape into a route to explore, from fruit farms with their own juices and preserves, through heritage rooms and craft workshops, to vineyards and farm stays on the hills above the Vistula. It is not a single ticketed attraction but a network of numbered stops – more than 40 of them – linked by a common sign and idea: getting to know the region through what grows here and what is made from it.

History: from a conference to a brand

The inspiration came from trails in Austria's Styria, seen by agricultural advisers on a study trip, and from the Małopolska Fruit Trail. In 2003 the Sandomierz branch of the Świętokrzyskie Agricultural Advisory Centre held the first conference, "On the Trail of Fine Products of the Sandomierz Land", and in March 2005 the county's local authorities signed a cooperation agreement. The trail was officially opened on 17 September 2005, on the eve of the Apple Harvest Festival in Obrazów, the orchard growers' thanksgiving. On 5 February 2008 the Sandomierz Apple Trail Association, based in Obrazów, was registered to manage the brand.

Four themed routes

• Appetising – orchards, juice presses, apiaries and cheeses, including the "Sam Ray" juice press, Sandomierz Cheeses from "Dziedzic", the Lavender Ranch and the "Sandomierz Honey" apiary.
• Artistic – the Horticultural Heritage Room in Obrazów, the Regional Room in Wielogóra, the Old Mill, a tapestry studio and the Świętokrzyskie Garden of Inspiration.
• Agritourism – a dozen or so farms and guesthouses, including the Manor on Wuthering Heights and the manor-and-park complex in Zbydniów.
• Wine – including Winnica Sandomierska, the "Paterkówka" vineyard, Winnica Tatar and the Gołębiewski family's "Na Zawrocie" vineyard.

Did you know?

In 2006 the trail won first prize in the "Clean Business" competition in the tourism products and services category. On 7 February 2011 Sandomierz apples were entered on Poland's List of Traditional Products, following an application by the association. The trail has hosted groups from all over Poland and EU journalists, as well as the producers of the TV series "Father Matthew". The route passes the Pepper Mountains, home to 15 species of wild rose.

Tripto tips

Explore the trail by car or bike, picking a few stops for a day; for more you will need a weekend. Most stops are private farms, so call ahead to arrange a visit or tasting; the association publishes an up-to-date numbered list of stops. It is loveliest in May, when the orchards are in bloom, and from August to October, during the harvest. Sandomierz Old Town is the natural starting point.