Jabłoniowy Sad

Jabłoniowy Sad is a recreational park on the Rakówka river in Bełchatów, opened on 7 June 2018. It combines the function of an orchard with Polish apple varieties and a space for walking, cycling and rest by the water, with its character changing depending on the season, from spring apple blossom to autumn fruit on the branches.

Origins and size of the grounds

The orchard covers almost one hectare of land, of which approximately 5000 square metres consist of lawns and over 300 metres are meadow. The investment was the first stage of a larger municipal programme "Energy, Nature, Tradition", aimed at promoting the apple as a symbol of Bełchatów and the tradition of kitchen gardens.

Apple varieties and other plantings

Over 2000 plants were planted on the site, including ten Polish apple varieties, such as Kosztela, Grochówka and Antonówka zwykła [common Antonówka]. These are varieties that were once common in Polish domestic orchards, now less frequently found in commercial crops focused on a few popular species. Alongside the apple trees grow fruit bushes, including blackcurrants, cranberries and strawberries, and grapevines are trained on pergolas.

Park infrastructure

The grounds are equipped with benches, pergolas, litter bins, walking paths and a separate cycle path, as well as lighting and monitoring. A new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Rakówka connected the orchard with the rest of the municipal path network, allowing walkers and cyclists to cross from one bank of the river to the other without detouring through the city centre.

Tourist routes

Three tourist routes through the orchard grounds run through Bełchatów: a general route, a family route and a sports and recreation route, all provided with audio description. This means the site combines a recreational function with an educational path about nature and fruit varieties, and visually impaired people can use the audio description of the routes without needing to read information boards.

Practical information

• Address: ulica Okrzei, Bełchatów, grounds on the Rakówka river
• Access on foot and by bicycle, pedestrian and cycle bridge connecting the orchard with the rest of the city
• Grounds open and accessible 24 hours a day, free admission
• What to expect: apple trees and fruit bushes, walking and cycling paths, benches and places to rest by the water, monitoring and ground lighting