Mills Trail along the Grabia River

The Mills Trail along the Grabia River is a yellow walking trail 46 kilometres long, marked out on the initiative of the Łask branch of PTTK, which runs through the valley of the Grabia river and showcases preserved water mills and the natural environment of Łask county.

Route overview

The trail begins in Kolumna, in the gmina [commune] of Łask, and ends in Siedlce Łaskie. Along the way the trail passes through, among others, Orchów, Zielęcice, Wola Marzeńska, Marzenin, Kustrzyc, Lichawa and Grabica, running through the picturesque Grabia valley with its characteristic bends and marshy meadows.

Water mills on the trail

At the beginning of the 20th century, 14 water mills operated in the area covered by the trail, using the gradient of the Grabia. Four have survived to this day: in Zielęcice, in Wola Marzeńska, the "Krzywda" mill in Brzeska, and a mill in Nowe Kozuby. The latter is one of the points on the trail, not its beginning or end, so it is worth planning the walk to reach it during a longer section of the route.

Nature and historical sites

The trail includes areas of protected landscape, including the Grabica nature reserve, making it attractive also for those seeking contact with nature. Among the historical attractions on the trail are a 14th-century church in Marzenin, a military cemetery from 1914 in Zamość, and fortifications from the Second World War near Grabna. Other objects in the region also lie in the vicinity of the trail, including the Mini Museum of Agricultural Machines and Equipment and ruins of a fortified manor house from the 16th-17th century in Sędziejowice.

Practical information

• Address of a point on the trail: Nowe Kozuby 9 (mill in Nowe Kozuby, one of the points on the trail).
• Getting there: the most convenient option is to drive to one of the settlements on the trail, for example Kolumna or Marzenin, and plan a walking section from there.
• What to expect: a long, marked walking trail along the Grabia river, four preserved water mills, and historical sites and protected areas on the trail. The condition of individual buildings and access to the mills are worth checking before setting out.