Szczebrzeszyn — the town of the beetle and its landscape park

Szczebrzeszyn is a historic town on the northern edge of Roztocze, known across Poland for the tongue-twister „W Szczebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie” („In Szczebrzeszyn a beetle buzzes in the reeds”). A statue of the beetle stands on the market square, a historic synagogue survives in the town, and nearby stretches the Szczebrzeszyn Landscape Park with its deep loess ravines. It is also the oldest town in this part of Roztocze (town rights before 1352) and a former town of three cultures — an Orthodox church and a synagogue stand here alongside the Catholic churches.

fot. Marek Marcola

The beetle and the tongue-twister

Szczebrzeszyn became famous through the Polish tongue-twister „W Szczebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie” from a poem by Jan Brzechwa — a classic of the school reader that carried the town's name across Poland. On the market square stands a statue of the beetle with a fiddle, which has become the town's symbol.

A town of three cultures

Szczebrzeszyn is the oldest town in this part of Roztocze — it held town rights before 1352, more than two centuries before neighbouring Zamość. For centuries it was a typical town of three cultures: Catholics, Orthodox and Greek Catholics, and Jews lived side by side. The traces are still visible — the churches of St Nicholas and St Catherine survive, along with a 16th-century Orthodox church, one of the oldest in Poland, and a synagogue with its Jewish cemetery.

What to see

The Beetle monument — on the market square, a popular photo stop
The synagogue — a 17th-century building, one of the oldest to survive in Poland
The Orthodox church of the Dormition — 16th century, one of the oldest in Poland
The churches of St Nicholas and St Catherine — Renaissance-Baroque churches of the first half of the 17th century
The Szczebrzeszyn Landscape Park — loess ravines around the town
The cemeteries — the Jewish cemetery with its old headstones

Practical notes

Szczebrzeszyn lies about 20 km west of Zamość, on the road towards Zwierzyniec. The town makes a good stop on the way to Roztocze National Park. It is worth walking round the market square, looking into the synagogue and taking a stroll through the loess ravines nearby.

How to get there and practical info

Location: About 20 km west of Zamość, on the edge of Roztocze
Character: The oldest town in the district (town rights before 1352), a former town of three cultures, the gateway to Roztocze National Park
What to see: The Beetle monument, the synagogue, the Orthodox church, the churches of St Nicholas and St Catherine, the Jewish cemetery
Nearby: The Szczebrzeszyn Landscape Park with its loess ravines
Admission: The market square is open to all; the synagogue depends on opening hours
Time needed: 2–3 hours including a walk

Gallery

Photos taken on site. Photo: Marek Marcola.

Ratusz w Szczebrzeszynie, przed nim pomnik Chrząszcza ze skrzypcami · fot. Marek Marcola

Wschodnia pierzeja rynku w Szczebrzeszynie · fot. Marek Marcola

Zabytkowa synagoga w Szczebrzeszynie · fot. Marek Marcola

Kościół św. Mikołaja w Szczebrzeszynie · fot. Marek Marcola

Kościół św. Katarzyny w Szczebrzeszynie · fot. Marek Marcola

Dawna cerkiew w Szczebrzeszynie · fot. Marek Marcola

When to go

Spring

Green ravines and a pleasant time for walking.

Summer

The height of the season, often with open-air events.

Autumn

Golden trees in the ravines and fine photographs.

Winter

Silence, an atmospheric town and fewer visitors.

Other sights in Roztocze

Straight-line distances from „Szczebrzeszyn — the town of the beetle" — calculated from real coordinates. By road it is often further.

The Church on the Water at ZwierzyniecThe masonry Baroque church of St John of Nepomuk of the 18th century, on an island in the

~8,8 km as the crow flies

The Echo ponds at ZwierzyniecA group of eight former fish ponds of the 1930s on the river Świerszcz at Zwierzyniec; one

~9,1 km as the crow flies

Bukowa Góra in Roztocze National ParkThe highest hill in Roztocze National Park (310 m a.s.l.) with a viewing terrace, reached

~10 km as the crow flies

Florianka — the Polish primitive horse centreThe Polish primitive horse breeding centre in Roztocze National Park, a former forester&#x

~14 km as the crow flies

Krasnobród — the Marian sanctuaryA spa town in Roztocze with the Baroque sanctuary of the Visitation of Our Lady, holy spri

~23 km as the crow flies

Józefów — the Babia Dolina quarryAn old quarry of white Roztocze limestone near Józefów, a popular film location — the area

~24 km as the crow flies

Susiec — the Tanew cascadesWaterfalls on the river Tanew in the „Nad Tanwią” reserve near Susiec — among the finest r

~40 km as the crow flies