The best traffic-free bike rides around Kozy

Entering Wilamowice, you step into one of the most fascinating cultural enclaves in Europe! The town's name (in the local language: Wymysoü) comes directly from the name Wilhelm (William) – a legendary Flemish or Frisian nobleman. In the 13th century, Wilhelm brought a group of settlers from Western Europe (present-day Belgium, the Netherlands, and even Scotland) who were fleeing great floods to this region. For centuries, the community, living in isolation, created its own unique Wilamowice language (wymysiöeryś), which has survived to this day and is the smallest living language in Poland. What is worth seeing here? Museum of Wilamowice Culture – a modern place where you can learn about the history of Wilhelm's migrants. Unique costumes and traditions – if you are lucky, you will see local women in colorful, traditional costumes with Frisian motifs. The Market Square in Wilamowice – the intimate center of the town, perfect for a short break on your cycling route.

Wilamowice and Stara Wieś The first settlers from the West did not found one village, but two twin settlements located right next to each other. This is confirmed by the oldest church documents (lists of tithes) from 1326: Stara Wieś – recorded in the documents as Antiquo Willamowicz (Old Wilamowice). Wilamowice – recorded as Novovillamowicz (New Wilamowice). Interestingly, the fates of the inhabitants of both villages took completely different paths: The inhabitants of Stara Wieś were very quickly assimilated with the surrounding Polish population. They adopted their language and customs, thereby erasing their Western roots. In turn, the inhabitants of (New) Wilamowice abandoned farming in favor of crafts and trade, lived in isolation, and thanks to this, preserved their unique language (wymysiöeryś), costumes, and cultural distinctiveness for centuries. Hypothesis about settlers from Scotland.. Mention of Scots appear regularly in the Wilamowice tradition alongside Flemings and Frisians. Local tradition in the Municipality of Wilamowice still officially upholds the version that the founding core consisted of fugitives from Western Europe, among whom, alongside the dominant Flemings and Frisians, there was also a group of Scots. Influence on language: Some researchers and the Wilamowians themselves have pointed out that in the Wilamowice language, one can find isolated sounds or archaic words that phonetically show a surprising similarity not only to Dutch, but also to Celtic languages or Old Scots (Scots) and Anglo-Saxon. Traces in surnames: Part of the family names and nicknames in Wilamowice has, over the years, been attempted to be etymologically linked to origins from the British Isles.

Wilamowice is a town near Bielsko-Biała, called "Polish Flanders". It is famous for its unique community: Wilamowian language: A distinct Germanic language that survived despite persecution after 1945. It is currently undergoing intense revitalization, and young scientists are conducting research on it. Traditions: Residents still cultivate colorful local customs today, cherishing the memory of 13th-century settlers from Western Europe. Wilamowian costume: The group also uses its own very characteristic and richly decorated traditional folk costume.

The Palace in Bulowice – a neo-Gothic gem open only a few times a year! 📸 I was there during the May long weekend and I recommend it: admission to the park is only 5 PLN, and for 20 PLN you can enter the palace (groups depart every hour). A lot was happening in front of the palace, there were plenty of attractions. If you want to visit this place, check Facebook – it's the only way to catch the open days! I've included photos of the entrance tickets among the photos.

In 2008, the building was purchased by a private investor from Bielsko-Biała. The manor house regained its former appearance, but as it became the residence of the new owner, it was no longer publicly accessible. The main entrance stairs were removed. In their place, a wall was built, cutting the manor house off from the axis of the access avenue. A new entrance was created at the rear of the building. A new bastion was constructed on the north side, symmetrically mirroring the historic bastion located on the other side. The area surrounding the manor house was adapted into a French-style garden.

Until the 1970s, the manor house was used as a municipal housing building. In the 1990s, it was acquired by a private company, which began its renovation. Work was suspended due to a lack of funds, and for many years, the historic building fell into disrepair. Lacking care and devastation, it began to fall into disrepair. Obscured by bushes and thickets, with its eerie empty windows, it presented a rather pathetic sight.

In the 18th century, the manor house was rebuilt. A shingled mansard roof was added to all wings. However, the manor house's current appearance is not significantly different from the time of its construction. The single-bay, two-story building is surrounded by a rectangular courtyard on three sides. The fourth side is enclosed by an arcaded gallery. Many architectural details from the manor's early days have been preserved. The surrounding moat and wall with bastions are also visible.

On a small stream, a tributary of the Soła River, a fortified manor house, not so much a castle, has survived. It was built in the first half of the 17th century by the Stokłowski family, coat of arms of Drzewica. The three-winged structure with an inner courtyard, supported by slopes and topped with a Renaissance attic, was a miniature version of the bastion castles of the time. The castle's defensive elements included a surrounding wall with circular corner bastions and a moat. It was certainly not a structure capable of withstanding regular troops, but it certainly ensured the safety of its inhabitants from various gangs and common thugs, which were common in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the time.